Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and NFL longsnapper, showed his support for Colin Kaepernick on Thursday after meeting with the 49ers QB – and even standing next to him during the national anthem.
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Kaepernick added: “I’ve been very blessed to be in this position and make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people”. Others said they felt that it is exactly what Kaepernick is doing which the military fights for, like the right to peaceful protest.
To the kneeling Kaepernick’s left stood Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who went to training camp with the Seahawks a year ago as a long snapper. As we were talking about it, we talked about taking a knee. During the height of the Black power movement last century, many Black men and women wore their hair in an afro as a symbol of their identity and pride.
“I’m already hearing it this week that next week on Monday Night Football, some officers are not going to work”, said union president Frank Saunders. “So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately”.
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.
What was more interesting is that Hunter said on an ESPN podcast that Kaepernick wouldn’t be welcomed in San Diego, a city with deep-rooted military ties, if he refused to stand for the anthem while playing for the Chargers.
“I wouldn’t have expressed my feelings that way”, Louis Paredes said.
The 49ers issued a statement about Kaepernick’s decision not to stand during the National Anthem saying, “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony”.
The move continues his protest against what he sees as racial injustice and police brutality.
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Kaepernick (No. 7) takes a knee during the national anthem.
