The quarterback has refused to stand for the anthem at the team’s preseason games in protest of issues including racial injustice and police brutality.
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The 49ers’ Thursday away game against the San Diego Chargers is the team’s last preseason contest before the regular season begins.
According to ESPN, this decision came after a 90-minute conversation Kaepernick and Eric Ried had over the weekend with former long snapper, Nate Boyer, who used to be an Army Green Beret.
Per Glazer, Boyer said the two discussed, “being able to move forward and understanding what his message is but also understanding what that flag means is important”.
In Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane also didn’t stand for the anthem before the start of that game Thursday night.
“I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”, he told NFL Media.
The 49ers have previously stated that they stand behind Kaepernick’s choice to express his individual freedoms. This time, however, he was booed by some of the Chargers fans in attendance.
“I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put their selves in harm’s way for my freedom of speech”, he said.
Kaepernick said he had invited teammates to sit with him during the anthem, but didn’t expect any to join him. “I don’t mean no disrespect toward anybody, but I’m just standing behind what I believe”.
Reid, a four-year veteran, was voted last year as the 49ers’ player representative for the NFL Players Association.
Jim Brown voiced support for Kaepernick while disagreeing with his method of protest.
So, props should be given to Kaepernick for putting his money where his mouth is and taking that extra step to spark change.
Thursday night’s game in San Diego was billed as “military night”, a tribute to the hundreds of thousands of military personnel who live in a city well known for its patriotism and military bases.
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Representatives for Kaepernick and the 49ers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
