Despite thoughtful analysis of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit down during the national anthem, there has been less conversation about the politics behind it. None are deterred by the backlash.
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The social protest started by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has now spread to the high school level.
Support reaches sports away from football as well, as Seattle Reign FC Megan Rapinoe has been kneeling during the national anthem before soccer games. However, the public may be curious to see if some of the Buffs’ players would join Colin Kaepernick and many other National Football League players in kneeling during the star-spangled banner. New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz says he can respect what Kaepernick is standing-or rather, not standing for. “I think there’s plenty of Americans that would say this is not the way to do it”.
Teammate Marvin Pusung-Zita, 17, who is Filipino-American, told the paper, “I consider my teammates my brothers, and being that my brothers on the team are black and oppressed, then of course by all means I’m going to support them and take the knee”.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way”.
“You notice that all the critics who come out are people who aren’t impacted by it, or who don’t understand it, and they’re talking about this is a distraction to my team?”
Because what is less patriotic than violence against innocent Americans? His actions have been criticized as disrespectful to the USA and to US veterans. Many have joined in, all protesting in different ways.
The NFL has not penalized Kaepernick for the protest.
This comes as some professional athletes have chosen to protest the anthem.
For someone of Kaepernick’s stature to exercise his constitutional right to peacefully protest the playing of the national anthem highlights a crossroad in our country. Sometime this summer, amidst all the shootings and brutal treatment of minorities by police officers, Kaerpernick’s nerve was touched in a way that he knew he had to do something to show his solidarity. The 1st amendment of the Constitution guarantees the right to protest to all citizens of this great country and the 2nd amendment gives the people the right to alter or abolish the government and form a new government if needed. It has always represented something better; what America strives to be if we work hard enough together.
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It was planned as a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest, but would not officially be associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.
