Kaepernick’s silent protest gaining yardage
Colin Kaepernick, former 49ers starting quarterback who has been regulated to second string due to injury and lower productivity, sat during the National Anthem before the NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Aug. 26.
“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 NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game that was published on Aug. 27. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
President Obama took time out of his schedule, at the G-20 Summit in China, to comment on Kaepernick’s protest. President Obama said that Kaepernick was “exercising his constitutional right” to bring attention to racial injustice by not taking part in the national anthem at the start of San Francisco 49ers football games. President Obama also stated that “he doesn’t doubt Kaepernick’s sincerity.” Obama said that Kaepernick’s decision to sit out the national anthem before games was “messy,” but it was “the way democracy works.”
Kaepernick’s refusal to stand ignited strong outrage among some of his peers including, Alex Boone, offensive guard, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
“That flag obviously gives him the right to do whatever he wants,” Boone said during a locker room media session. “I understand it. At the same time, you should have some fucking respect for people who served, especially people that lost their life to protect our freedom.”
Comments that perceived him as anti-military prompted Kaepernick, during a media session, Aug. 28, to say “I have great respect for men and women that have fought for this country.”
As a result of the backlash from his perceived anti-military stance, Kaepernick reached out for guidance to former Seahawks long snapper and Special Forces Green Beret Staff Sargent Army Veteran Nate Boyer, who wrote an open letter to Kaepernick, published in an edition of Army Times, Aug 30. Boyer met with Kaepernick for 90 minutes before 49ers preseason game against San Diego, Sept. 1. During the national anthem at the San Diego game, Boyer stood with his hand over his heart beside a kneeling Kaepernick and fellow 49er teammate, Safety, Eric Reid, who also refused to stand. In a radio interview on the Herd, Sept. 7, with host Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports 1, Boyer explained that he and Kaepernick came up with the plan for Kaepernick to take a knee instead of sitting as a way to show more respect to the military.
Boyer tweeted a photo of the two telling Kaepernick “thanks for the invite” and “good talk” in the caption of the photo.
Veterans from all parts of the country and world have weighed in on the subject. Many of the veterans have come out in support of Kaepernick and his right to protest, even if they do not support the way he did it, even starting a hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick. Some, like Jay Hernandez, Office of Veteran Services certifying official, feel that he could have found a better way to protest.
“Telling him (Kaepernick) how to protest is more offensive than his actual protest,” Hernandez said. “Freedoms are not really freedoms if you are picking which point of view gets them.”
Kaepernick’s non-violent form of protest has prompted other athletes to also take a stance in various other ways including standing with a raised fist, kneeling and sitting during the national anthem.
“I don’t necessarily agree with what he is doing,” Rodger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, told the Associated Press Sept. 7. “We encourage our players to be respectful in that time, and I like to think of it as a moment where we can unite as a country. And that’s what we need more, and that’s what I think football does—it unites our country. So I would like to see us focusing on our similarities and trying to bring people together.”
William Hoston, professor of political science at University of Houston-Clear Lake, said that the first amendment provides Kaepernick with the right to peaceably protest, and it does not make him unpatriotic or un-American to do so.
“I am happy that Kaepernick is protesting against the racial injustices that plague this country,” Hoston said. “I am not a big fan of how he is protesting, however, it is in his right to protest in the best manner to spark dialogue and create a level of uncomfort for those who dismiss this important societal concern.”
Social media tracking company Hookit says that, as of Sept. 15, Kaepernick has been pulling in an average of 13,884 thousand new followers a day in the past three weeks and 277.6 thousand new followers in the last 30 days on social media.
Stats by NFLShop.com show Kaepernick’s Jersey took over the top spot in sales, Sept. 6. This prompted Kaepernick to make a statement on Instagram “thanking everyone for the support” and saying that he will donate 100 percent of the proceeds “back to the communities!”
OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST
Kaepernick is standing for something, but it’s not the national anthem
Written by: Tori Whitworth
Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem has generated a social media frenzy. Tweeters are refusing to stand down as Kaepernick’s non-violent protest continues to gain yardage. READ MORE
EDITORIAL: Taking an alternative stance to the national anthem
Written by: Editors
Freedom of speech is more than a privilege; it is an obligation. Rosa Parks took the seat, now Kaepernick is taking the knee. READ MORE
