On Tuesday during an interview with Newsmax host Steve Malzberg, Iowa Rep. Steve King railed against Kaepernick for being an “Islamic State sympathizer”, Salon reported.
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Then, King went even further, “This is activism that’s sympathetic to ISIS”, referring to the infamous terrorist group.
King proceeded to evoke Kap’s girlfriend, Hot 97 personality Nessa Diab, as Colin’s “Islamic girlfriend”, adding that being her partner shaped the QB’s views.
The 67-year-old Iowa representative said, “I think Colin Kaepernick is representing the San Francisco 49ers when he puts on that uniform”. If King were the coach, he said, Kaepernick would not “set foot out on this field again” until the quarterback “beg [s] forgiveness from the American people”.
“When he steps out on the stage, the world stage, he’s taking advantage of that and he’s undermining patriotism”, King argued.
Kaepernick already made headlines this football season with his refusal to stand during the national anthem in protest of oppression of blacks in the U.S. His own protest has inspired other players on other teams to do the same.
King responded by saying if someone working for him publicly promoted same-sex marriage or abortion, he would fire them.
Kaepernick’s silent protest began last month when he sat during “The Star Spangled Banner” before a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. “This is activism that’s sympathetic to ISIS”. “For me, if I’m the coach, I would say, ‘You’re done”.
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The NFL athlete has denied any recent conversion to Islam, but said he has “great love” for the religion. He said, “People are terrified of [Muslims] to the point where Trump wants to ban all Muslims from coming here, which is ridiculous”.
