Kaepernick is expected to play Thursday night against the San Diego Chargers, who will be holding their annual salute to the military at the game.
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Kaepernick has been enveloped in controversy since reporters noticed he didn’t stand up for the anthem before a game last week.
Kaepernick recently said, “People don’t realize what’s really going on in this country”.
His latest protest – which drew support from teammate Eric Reid, who also knelt – came on a night when the Chargers honored USA military personnel in a “Salute to the Military”.
The executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, one of the largest police organizations in the country, blasted Kaepernick and the NFL for continually demeaning police officers.
But veterans like John Maccrossen defended Kaepernick’s right to civil disobedience. Unfortunately, many of those tweets denouncing Kaepernick’s decision included profane language and/or racist and derogatory comments toward Kaepernick, so we couldn’t include them in this list.
He said when there is a “significant change” in how minorities are treated by police, he will stand for the playing of the anthem.
“We wanted to make sure that the message we’re trying to say isn’t lost with the action that’s coming along with it”.
But fans like Mike Lemons disagree. According to a press release from the team, commemorations of the military will take place both before and during the game.
“I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag”, Uzcategui said.
A 49ers fan at told CNN “He’s got the right to do what he wants as an American”.
The use of force by police against African-Americans in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore and NY has sparked periodic and sometimes destructive protests in the past two years and prompted the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
But while Kaepernick continues to take a stand by kneeling and sitting down, some are wondering now that he’s sparked the conversation, what’s his solution.
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The 49ers haven’t direcly addressed Kaepernick’s activism, but did release the following statement after last Friday’s game. He also plans to donate $1 million to different organizations that work with undeserved communities.
