Kaepernick took to Instagram last July in response to the Alton Sterling shooting in Louisiana, posting the inflammatory words, “This is what lynchings look like in 2016!”
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“Many will tune in at 10 p.m. ET to see what happens when the national anthem plays at the game billed as the 28th Annual Salute to the Military”. Kaepernick signed some autographs before San Francisco’s preseason game and when No. 7 in a 49ers jersey loped out for warmups, many people in red 49ers jerseys clapped and cheered. The veteran quarterback is attempting to regain the starting job that he lost last season, and he likely helped his cause with a 103-yard passing performance while playing the entire first half in the 49ers’ 31-21 victory over the Chargers.
Kaepernick’s protest has dominated the public discussion of the nation’s most popular sport this week, and his stance has been met with equally passionate condemnation and support. And I get it, his First Amendment right. USA Today also reports that the head of a national police organization ripped Kaepernick for the socks, saying the quarterback is “dishonoring police officers with what he’s wearing on the field”. “That is not the way to do it”.
During the national anthem prior to the game getting underway, Lane was photographed sitting on the bench, supposedly showing solidarity with Kaepernick and the message that he’s trying to get across. “He said he appreciated it”.
“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. I don’t like that he is sitting during the national anthem, but I appreciate what he is standing for”.
“I want to support our troops, me and my fellow veterans”, Mccallum told Breitbart News. Reid, who wasn’t in uniform for the game, had been publicly supportive of Kaepernick’s stance.
As the National Football League preseason wraps up, the Seattle Seahawks were on the road Thursday night taking on the Oakland Raiders, and this is where Lane apparently made his statement as well.
“As far as taking a knee tonight, Eric [Reid] – as well as myself – had a long conversation with Nate Boyer, who is a military vet”, Kaepernick said. He posted a photo of the two on Twitter with a caption reading, “Let’s just keep moving forward. This is what America should be all about”. Kaepernick said he is choosing to remain seated until things change.
Kaepernick was asked after Thursday’s win over the Chargers if he was aware that Lane had joined the protest. “And it was also a way to try to show more respect to the men and women that fight for this country”.
Kaepernick appeared to be referring to police use of deadly force, which has come under increased criticism in recent years as incidents have been captured on cellphone video.
While negative reaction to the quarterback has been strong, Kaepernick also has been widely praised for his commitment to his stance. Kaepernick, he said, was “disrespecting our flag and everything that we fought for”.
Sunny Anderson, Food Network personality and a veteran tweeted: “I took an oath & served, so players on a team I don’t even like could have freedom of speech”.
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On Tuesday, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly said that he will rest quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who is the presumptive favorite to be named the starter for Week 1.
