Colin Kaepernick Refuses To Stand For Anthem: "There Are Bodies In The Street"

Colin Kaepernick is speaking out after the 49ers quarterback refused to stand for the U.S. national anthem before last night’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, telling the NFL that “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 continued:

    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 responded to Kaepernick’s symbolic statement by recognizing his right to protest the anthem:

    The National Anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. 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 and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.

Kaepernick is the highest-profile athlete to protest the national anthem since Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1996—for which the NBA suspended him. Kaepernick’s Twitter feed has been tweeting out anti-white supremacist statements for a lengthy period of time.

“I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed,” Kaepernick told NFL.com. “If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.”

[NFL.com]

symbolic even though there is a black president.

Well, I am not really sure what to make of this.  I guess you have to respect the guy for standing up for what he believes in (in not standing up...a bit ironic).  He is not doing anything disruptive or harmful, so you cannot attack him there.  More than that, though, he has a point, and we are really at a crossroads in this country and something needs to be done.  I am not sure what it is, but it is interesting nonetheless.  Thanks for sharing.

do you agree or disagree with his stance

i dont blame him.

This guy is a dillusional nut case. He needs to get out of his priviledged life and take a real good look around.

the more the situations play out,the more I realize that a large segment of aMerica wants people of color to shut up and be happy

the do it

"In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion
and freedom of expression,

we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not,
in our celebration of the national anthem "


I hope Colin catches on and THIS become a trend !  8)

to EXPOSE the blatant racist white America !

Privileged?  I thought that only the whites were privileged ...