Colin Kaepernick refuses “to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people”...
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000691077/article/colin-kaepernick-explains-protest-of-national-anthem
Colin Kaepernick explains protest of national anthem
SANTA CLARA, Ca. -- Forty Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick has willingly and knowingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States.
His latest refusal to stand for the anthem -- he has done this in at least one other preseason game -- came before the 49ers preseason loss to Green Bay at Levi's Stadium.
"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."
The 49ers issued this statement: "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."
By taking a stand for civil rights, Kaepernick, 28, joins other athletes, like the NBA's Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and several WNBA players in using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S.
However, refusal to support the American flag as a means to take a stand has brought incredible backlash before and likely will in this instance. The NBA's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets, formerly Chris Jackson before converting to Islam, refused to acknowledge the flag in protest, citing similar reasons as Kaepernick and saying that it conflicted with some of his Islamic beliefs.
Abdul-Rauf drew the ire of fans and was briefly suspended by the NBA before a compromise was worked out between the league and player, who eventually stood with his teammates and coaches at the playing of the national anthem.
Kaepernick said that he is aware of what he is doing and that he knows it will not sit well with a lot of people, including the 49ers. He said that he did not inform the club or anyone affiliated with the team of his intentions to protest the national anthem.
"This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he said. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right."
Kaepernick said that he has thought about going public with his feelings for a while but that "I felt that I needed to understand the situation better."
He said that he has discussed his feelings with his family and, after months of witnessing some of the civil unrest in the U.S., decided to be more active and involved in rights for black people. Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents and siblings.
Kaepernick's Twitter feed is filled with civil rights Tweets and messages.
The former Super Bowl starting quarterback's decision to go public comes while he is fighting for his football life with the 49ers, who drafted him in the second round in 2011. He lost his starting job last season after being one of the most promising players in the NFL during his run under former coach Jim Harbaugh.
Over the past few months, his relationship with management has turned sour. He requested a trade last spring, which never came to fruition. He also has spent most of the offseason rehabilitating from operations to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, his hand and knee. That left him unable to fully compete with Blaine Gabbert for months and now, just weeks before the regular season starts, has him seemingly in a bind to regain his starting job.
He made his preseason debut against the Packers and played for the second quarter, completing two of six passes for 14 yards. He looked as rusty as you'd expect from someone who has not played since last November.
Following the game and without any knowledge of Kaepernick's non-football behavior, coach Chip Kelly said that there has never been any discussion about cutting Kaepernick.
Comments
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Gabbert probably going to be starter now.. Smh
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chgarcia345 wrote: »Gabbert probably going to be starter now.. Smh
He already was -
its kinda ironic how the mixed blacks a lot of times be the most militiant lol.
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Kaep been a real one...
All the real ? been was calling him Minister Kapernick for a reason
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I applaud this brother and the stance he's taking. Especially since it's libel to ? up his money.
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It amazes me how much some white people care about the national anthem in the first place.
Salute to Kap for this though, wish we had more athletes like him willing to stand up for what they believe in even if it hurts their pockets.
If anybody takes an endorsement away from Kaepernick for this ? we should all stop ? with them.
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Bro is real for that ? . The flag of the oppressors.
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Fake activism 101. Kap knows he's not going to be the QB, so he's tryin to stay relevant beyond the NFL. It would be one thing if he never stood for the anthem before, but what finally dawned on him before this season?
And "I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.". Like not standing for the anthem is doing ? . Chris Jackosn didn't stand for religious beliefs which I respect. But Kap is full of ? .
This is what real activism looks like....
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Respect
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Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .ThaNubianGod wrote: »Fake activism 101. Kap knows he's not going to be the QB, so he's tryin to stay relevant beyond the NFL. It would be one thing if he never stood for the anthem before, but what finally dawned on him before this season?
And "I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.". Like not standing for the anthem is doing ? . Chris Jackosn didn't stand for religious beliefs which I respect. But Kap is full of ? .
This is what real activism looks like....
1.The starting qb can always get injured.
2. Kaep could of been traded to another team.
3. Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? . -
I get what hes doing but homie was raised/friends with nothn bout cacs
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In all honesty, I never understood why black ppl stood up for the national anthem. Once I learned about slavery, I always sat down during that ? .
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I support the brother for doing what he feels is right. A lot of people stand up and go along with the national anthem out of fear of being singled out for not doing it. If more people felt comfortable I think you'd see this more often.
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I checked his twitter feed, dude takes an interest in social issues pertaining to us black people. I respect that and his stance.
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Welp, He about to be out of the league. Now see how many black people are going to come to his aid financially?
That's the issue with black athletes standing up because those check aren't going to be coming in anymore.
And to take a stance with no economy to back you is a problem
That's why you Never be a lone dog in a fight against a system you need do it as a group. -
Hmmm how convenient after he came back from arm surgery and stunk up the joint....? the 9ers...giants all day...big up kap for keeping it g on the demonstration tho he can be Eli's backup
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Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .ThaNubianGod wrote: »Fake activism 101. Kap knows he's not going to be the QB, so he's tryin to stay relevant beyond the NFL. It would be one thing if he never stood for the anthem before, but what finally dawned on him before this season?
And "I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.". Like not standing for the anthem is doing ? . Chris Jackosn didn't stand for religious beliefs which I respect. But Kap is full of ? .
This is what real activism looks like....
1.The starting qb can always get injured.
2. Kaep could of been traded to another team.
3. Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .
Not standing for the national anthem isn't any kind of stand. It literally does nothing. Kap is a millionaire, so if he's about helping the oppressed, there are actually things he can do with his money/influence to help. But not standing for the anthem isn't one of them. -
chgarcia345 wrote: »Gabbert probably going to be starter now.. Smh
Christian Ponder still has a shot. -
ThaNubianGod wrote: »
Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .ThaNubianGod wrote: »Fake activism 101. Kap knows he's not going to be the QB, so he's tryin to stay relevant beyond the NFL. It would be one thing if he never stood for the anthem before, but what finally dawned on him before this season?
And "I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.". Like not standing for the anthem is doing ? . Chris Jackosn didn't stand for religious beliefs which I respect. But Kap is full of ? .
This is what real activism looks like....
1.The starting qb can always get injured.
2. Kaep could of been traded to another team.
3. Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .
Not standing for the national anthem isn't any kind of stand. It literally does nothing. Kap is a millionaire, so if he's about helping the oppressed, there are actually things he can do with his money/influence to help. But not standing for the anthem isn't one of them.
He's doing more than you............. -
KKKelly about to cut him now.
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ThaNubianGod wrote: »
Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .ThaNubianGod wrote: »Fake activism 101. Kap knows he's not going to be the QB, so he's tryin to stay relevant beyond the NFL. It would be one thing if he never stood for the anthem before, but what finally dawned on him before this season?
And "I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.". Like not standing for the anthem is doing ? . Chris Jackosn didn't stand for religious beliefs which I respect. But Kap is full of ? .
This is what real activism looks like....
1.The starting qb can always get injured.
2. Kaep could of been traded to another team.
3. Taking a stand is taking a stand, u Dusty ass ? .
Not standing for the national anthem isn't any kind of stand. It literally does nothing. Kap is a millionaire, so if he's about helping the oppressed, there are actually things he can do with his money/influence to help. But not standing for the anthem isn't one of them.
He's doing more than you.............
You don't even know me. I been volunteering a the Urban League out here in LA for years. I volunteer at schools in my home area to teach kids about computers, programming, and other skills we don't get. My company works with Blackgirlscode to help black girls get into the field. And I tell you this because what I do still is just a fraction of what others I see do. Not celebs, but everyday people who spend their free time helping others. 60 year old women with arthritis teaching kids how to read.18 year olds teaching 13 year old girls how to program Java.
So again, not standing for the anthem isn't doing a damn thing. "Speaking out" isn't doing a damn thing. It's an empty gesture, nothin more. But in this day and age its all about ? like this, or tweets, blocking traffic, or awards speeches. -
eastbay510 wrote: »It amazes me how much some white people care about the national anthem in the first place.
Salute to Kap for this though, wish we had more athletes like him willing to stand up for what they believe in even if it hurts their pockets.
If anybody takes an endorsement away from Kaepernick for this ? we should all stop ? with them.
Its because white people cant open an American history book and read about centuries of slavery, ? , murder, then segregation, racism, murder, anti black laws, ect.. of their own people.
They can read a little something about anti irish, and anti italian sentiment. A little anti Semitic ? too. Maybe some white indentured servitude here and there. But nothing in American history tops what brown and black people have had to go through.
With all that said, i think when you dont have that history with America, you stand a lot taller and prouder than most during these moments. Even if you do it unconsciously. Im still happy to be in America vs any other country in the world, and am fortunate enough to live in a time where i can be fairly comfortably black in America without fear of racial violence. But even still, i cant fully shake the twitch i feel on 4th of july, knowing at the time what african slaves were still going through.
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Kaep been a real one...
All the real ? been was calling him Minister Kapernick for a reason
Yea it was only you calling him that. I'm surprised you didn't salute him. -
bro the urban league is ? too. you might as well said you volunteer at the naacp. all ? all the time
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Aight I'm on board. 49ers all day
