About 70 Santa Clara police officers work home games at the stadium, NBC Bay Area reports.
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“It was learned by the members of the SCPOA that the 49er organization has been allowing Mr. Kaepernick to wear exposed socks with the image of a pig wearing a police hat during practices at the training camp in Santa Clara”, the union said in the letter.
In a letter obtained by KNTV, the Santa Clara police union told the 49ers organization that officers wouldn’t work at the stadium if it doesn’t “take action” against Kaepernick over his protest.
It criticizes what it called anti-police statements made by Kaepernick, calling them “insulting, inaccurate and completely unsupported by any facts”.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
It’s the latest in the flurry of heated responses – both negative and positive – that Kaepernick has gotten since his silent protest became the talk of the National Football League and much of the nation last week.
His protest continued Thursday night when he chose to kneel for the national anthem in San Diego during the Chargers’ Salute to the Military. Instead, he plans to donate $1 million throughout the year to community groups affected by racial inequality and police brutality.
I am planning to take it a step further, I’m now working with organizations to be involved, and making sure I’m actively in these communities, as well as donating the first million dollars I make this year to different organizations to help these communities and help these people. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color”, Kaepernick told Steve Wyche of NFL Media.
While negative reactions have been strong, Kaepernick also has been widely praised for his commitment to his stance.
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“In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem”, the organization said. Veterans and military members tweeted their support for Kaepernick in recent days under the hashtag “VeteransForKaepernick”.
