San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked controversy yesterday after refusing to stand for the National Anthem prior to the start of his team’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers:
Colin Kaepernick takes a stand knowing he has himself immersed in controversy: https://t.co/R3pSnMeWdD
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) August 27, 2016
Kaepernick told me that he is fully aware that there will be backlash. He is willing to deal with it: https://t.co/R3pSnMeWdD
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) August 27, 2016
Kaepernick explained his refusal to stand for the Anthem this way:
“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 against Green Bay. “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.”
There was plenty of backlash to Kaepernick, but Black Lives Matter activist and Baltimore City School System adviser DeRay McKesson was not among those being critical:
.@Kaepernick7, ✊?.
— deray (@deray) August 27, 2016
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Colin Kaepernick, truth-teller.
— deray (@deray) August 27, 2016
Can an invitation to Kaepernick to join McKesson on his next visit to the White House be far behind?
https://twitter.com/MikeRoySF/status/769556344403886080
https://twitter.com/Alex__Katz/status/769557143393538048
https://twitter.com/SawPuppet/status/769556924400439296
https://twitter.com/rjbigelow/status/769559034298966016
https://twitter.com/LeseanJohnson/status/769557307160166400
https://twitter.com/GomesBolt/status/769543093435588608
https://twitter.com/JavierDCH12/status/769556429573332992
Kaepernick doesn't mention that this country gave him the opportunity to make $128 mil being a mediocre quarterback. pic.twitter.com/YtQg1GATQd
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) August 27, 2016
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