Posted on 08/27/2016 3:23:25 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is refusing to stand for the national anthem before games because he believes the United States oppresses African Americans and other minorities.
Kaepernick sat on the team's bench Friday night during the anthem before the Niners played host to the Green Bay Packers in an exhibition game. He later explained his reasoning in an interview with NFL Media .
''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 said. ''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.''
The 49ers issued a statement after Pro Football Talk initially reported on Kaepernick's stand, saying that Americans have the right to protest or support the anthem.
''The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony,'' the team said. ''It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. 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.''
Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents. He has been outspoken on his Twitter account on civil rights issues and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kaepernick is not the first U.S.-based athlete to use the anthem for protest. In 1996, NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamist beliefs.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Always knew he was a jerk. And this during the presidency of Obama!
Knick has shown himself to be ignorant and stupid. Don’t stop by sitting down for the NA; quit the NFL, give all your assets to blm and start marching with the revs. Really show everyone how you feel and don’t be a pompous hypocrite. Maybe he’s a victim of traumatic encephalopathy. Bye bye.
I would bet good money that Kaepernick NEVER wins a Super Bowl.
... Because Kaepernick isn’t that good.
National Felons League. I quit watching when half the players are indistinguishable from convicts.
This kind of attitude, which is manifested in various ways by more than just a few professional ball players these days, is why I stopped watching pro sports, and I’ve never regretted doing so.
"The levels of injustice, racism, bigotry and brutality faced by perpetrated by certain people of color has crossed an invisible threshold in America. The straw has broken the camel's back."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/king-colin-kaepernick-not-stand-anthem-article-1.2768350
So he’s resigning from the team and giving the money back?
If Hillary gets elected, we’ll see more and more of this b.s. happening.
If that was my kid he would be getting a phone call.
Acting like a third-string, half-assed QB.
Hopefully some patriots will throw eggs at this **** at the games.
Don’t suspend him. Just Boo him everfy time he appears. That’s worse.
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You beat me to it! I hope it happens every time he steps on the field, whether at home or on the road.
The world’s richest (and fattest) poor people are mistreated? Yeah, right!
His parents are either big libs, or terribly disappointed in him.
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