San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continued his national anthem protest before the team opened its season Monday night, kneeling through the Star Spangled Banner yet again.
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Because when they intrude on the sacred tradition of Sunday afternoon football, it means the latest wave of civil rights protests are becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Asked about his reaction to the support he’s been getting from players around the league, Kaepernick said, “It’s just great – you can see everybody’s paying attention”.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”, Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game.
Since Kaepernick spoke these words, his protest has caught fire across the country, with National Football League players from Miami to Seattle to Boston showing solidarity by kneeling or raising their fists in the air during the song.
Jones told USA TODAY Sports he doesn’t anticipate a major league player protesting during the anthem as Kaepernick has, noting that African Americans comprise just 8% of major leaguers, compared to 68% of the NFL and 74% of the National Basketball Association.
Commenting on his protest, Jelani Jenkins said: ‘I chose to get involved to see if I could create change, raise awareness. “That’s why I took a stand”.
While military personnel unfurled a giant American flag over the field, a number of fans shouted at Kaepernick “Why don’t you stand up?”, according to an ESPN commentator reporting for the Disney-owned sports channel’s broadcast.
“Although I respect what he’s doing and I respect the passion and burden he has for this issue, a massive issue, I do not respect the fact that he put himself and his stance above the team because he’s not the only one who’s passionate about big social issues”. “We just wanted to make a statement that America is not what you think it is”, said junior quarterback Markel Grant.
Model Kate Upton took umbrage with the protest, suggesting that it was “unacceptable” and that Americans should “support each other” on 9/11.
And that was your national anthem update from Levi’s Stadium. We’re supposed to be so free, so free.
Kaepernick previously pledged the first $1 million he makes this season to help communities in need and has said he will do the same with proceeds from his jersey sales.
One disgusted celebrity was supermodel Kate Upton, who tweeted: “Sitting or kneeling down during the national anthem is a disgrace to those people who have served and now serve our country”.
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Jones drew a contrast between former 49ers tight end Bruce Miller, who was charged with seven felonies after assaulting a 70-year-old man and his son.
