More power to 49ers' Colin Kaepernick for taking a stand against social injustice
Now is not the time to demonize Colin Kaepernick.
Instead, this is an opportunity to listen to his heart.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has taken a stand by refusing to stand for the national anthem, a not-so-subtle admonishment of the country amid his courageous social statement protesting perceived injustices of police brutality that have touched so many African-Americans and other minorities.
“I’ll continue to sit,” Kaepernick, 28, told reporters in the locker room Sunday, two days after his demonstration exploded as another case of sports transcending society.
“I’ll continue to stand with the people who are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change, and when there’s significant change — and I feel like that flag represents what It’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way it’s supposed to — I’ll stand.”
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More power to him.
49ers' Colin Kaepernick: 'I'll continue to sit' for national anthem
After sitting on the bench as the anthem was played before a Friday night exhibition against the Green Bay Packers (Kaepernick sat out The Star Stangled Banner in the Niners' two previous preseason games, too, when he wasn't in uniform) told NFL Network's Steve Wyche that he refused to “show pride in the flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
Referring to recent slayings of African-Americans by police that have sparked racial tensions, protests and other forms of backlash across the nation, which has historically tilted the scales of the criminal justice system so unfavorably against minorities, Kaepernick lamented that it would be selfish not to protest.
"There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” he said.
In the face of intense criticism, including some fans who have responded by burning his jersey, Kaepernick doubled down Sunday after a meeting in which the issue was discussed with teammates — and most supported his First Amendment right to express himself.
The embattled quarterback calmly spoke for roughly 20 minutes afterward, hardly afraid to face the heat or dodge the opportunity to explain himself in further detail. He maintained that he wanted to bring awareness to an issue. Mission accomplished.
“This country stands for liberty, freedom, justice for all,” he said. “And it’s not happening for all right now.”
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Agree with his methods or not, Kaepernick is a fresh example showing that the Constitution applies to all Americans — including those in football uniforms. The way I see it, Kaepernick just earned a lot of street cred for at least standing up for something that he’s obviously passionate about — knowing full well there could be a political price to pay.
Somewhere, Muhammad Ali is smiling.
“I have to stand up for people that are oppressed,” Kaepernick told Wyche. “If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.”
There’s no NFL policy mandating players to stand up during the anthem. In a text message, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said “players are encouraged to stand but not required.”
Niners coach Chip Kelly isn’t slamming Kaepernick, either, maintaining: “We recognize his right to express his feelings.”
There are many societal issues and causes that any of us can choose to protest, yet Kaepernick has chosen to focus on police brutality. This is consistent with disgust he expressed in early July when police in Baton Rouge shot Alton Sterling to death after he was thrown to the ground by two officers. On social media, Kaepernick wrote, “This is what lynchings look like in 2016!”
It’s striking that Kaepernick, who played his first game in 292 days Friday even as numerous injuries have left him little chance of winning the starting job, is suddenly evoking the spirit of John Carlos and Tommie Smith, U.S. track athletes who protested conditions of African-Americans on the grand stage of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City by raising black-gloved fists during the anthem.
Not popular.
The people so willing to dump on Kaepernick for making his expression public are conveniently denying him the respect that he deserves to do just that. America isn’t perfect. And many have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the country's ideals.
Kaepernick insists his actions are not meant to disrespect the military. Instead, he believes, “People are dying in vain because this country is not holding up their end of the bargain up, as far as giving liberty, freedom and justice to everybody.”
American values. Like equality. Like the right to call ourselves out.
Kaepernick has reminded us of that.
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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell
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