Football Player Colin Kaepernick Won’t Stand for the National Anthem Until This Country Changes
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback is fed up with racism and police violence in the U.S., saying recently, “I mean, you have Hillary [Clinton] who’s called black teens or black kids super-predators. You have Donald Trump who’s openly racist … what is this country really standing for?”
From The Washington Post:
Kaepernick, a sixth-year man out of Nevada, initiated his stance in protest of police violence earlier this month at the start of San Francisco’s preseason slate, and told NFL Media, “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” following a game against the Green Bay Packers on Friday night.
Speaking to reporters at the 49ers’ training facility for more than 18 minutes, Kaepernick didn’t back down from his position as he passionately elaborated on his stance. Per Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Kaepernick did not duck any of the 30-plus questions that came his way.
Kaepernick said he will continue to sit during the playing of the anthem before games until “there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent in this country — is representing the way that it’s supposed to.” When asked what he is trying to accomplish with his stance, he said that, “Ultimately it’s to bring awareness and make people realize what’s really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust, people aren’t being held accountable for, and that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that — this country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now.” … When asked if he feels that his position could be seen as a distraction to the 49ers, Kaepernick said no and added that he feels it’s something that can “unify this team.” He also admitted to being aware that the situation may cost him his job or any endorsements, saying that “those are things I’m prepared to handle and those are things that, you know, other people might not be ready for. At this point, I’ve been blessed to be able to get this far and have the privilege of being in the NFL and making the kind of money I make and enjoy luxuries like that.”
— Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
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Source: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/football_player_colin_kaepernick_wont_stand_for_national_anthem_20160829/
