San Francisco 49ers star Colin Kaepernick is putting his money where his mouth is – pledging to donate $1 million to community organizations Thursday. “I have to help these communities”.
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“Those conversations are important to have because the better we understand each other, the better we know each other, the better we can deal and communicate with each other which ultimately makes everyone, puts everybody in a better position”.
The photos were taken earlier in training camp before Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem as a form of protest became public last weekend. National Football League defense player and Kaepernick’s teammate Eric Reid also joined him.
After the game, he said, “It’s something I plan to keep doing until I feel like justice is being served”.
Other reporters at the game said the demonstration also included free agent long snapper Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who had penned a letter to the quarterback and had been invited to the sideline.
“I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed”, Kaepernick said. “And we talked about it at length, and we wanted to make sure the message that we’re trying to send isn’t lost with the action that’s coming along with”. That came off as more respectful to the country, to the anthem, to the military.
Most recently, Kaepernick kneeled instead of sitting at Thursday’s game against the San Diego Chargers. Kaepernick said he is choosing to remain seated until things change.
Kaepernick has not stood for the anthem during any of the previous three preseason games, but it wasn’t noticed the first two weeks because he wasn’t in uniform.
Kaepernick took a knee on the 49ers sideline as Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Powell sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” while 240 sailors, Marines and soldiers presented a US flag and service emblems from all branches of service.
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The booing continued on Kaepernick’s three plays at quarterback on San Francisco’s second possession.
