Kaepernick, 49ers teammate kneel during national anthem
ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, middle, kneels during the national anthem before the team’s NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers, Thursday,n San Diego.
SAN DIEGO >> While a naval officer sang the first notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and dozens of military members unfurled an oversized flag on the football field, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid dropped to one knee on the San Francisco 49ers’ sideline.
With his silent gestures of protest, Kaepernick intends to keep drawing attention to a litany of American problems — and he’s no longer alone.
Kaepernick and Reid kneeled during the national anthem Thursday before the 49ers’ 31-21 preseason victory over San Diego, ignoring scattered boos and angry shouts in Qualcomm Stadium at the Chargers’ Salute to the Military preseason game.
Up north in Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane showed his support for Kaepernick by sitting on the bench during the anthem.
“I’m not anti-American. I love America,” said Kaepernick, who stayed on the field long after the game to sign autographs for enthusiastic fans. “I love people. That’s why I’m doing this. I want to help make America better, and I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from.”
Kaepernick’s protest has dominated the public discussion of the nation’s most popular sport this week, and his stance has been met with passionate condemnation and support. His refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice last week when he remained seated on the 49ers’ bench before a preseason game against Green Bay.
The quarterback cited numerous reasons for his actions, ranging from racial injustice and minority oppression to police brutality and the treatment of military veterans.
Kaepernick said he plans to continue his protests during the regular season. He also intends to donate $1 million “to different organizations to help these communities and help these people,” declining to provide specifics.
“The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with,” Kaepernick said. “We have a lot of people that are oppressed. We have a lot of people that aren’t treated equally, that aren’t given equal opportunities. Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of issues that need to be talked about.”
Kaepernick wasn’t earnestly booed in San Diego until he took the field to start the game for the 49ers, immediately leading them on a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive against the hometown team. Amid his burgeoning social activism, he is also fighting for a roster spot and attempting to regain the starting job that he lost last season.
When Kaepernick left the field following pregame warmups, he was greeted with profanity and obscene gestures from Leo Uzcategui, a 20-year Navy veteran in a military-green Chargers jersey with quarterback Philip Rivers’ No. 17 in camouflage numbering.
“I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag,” Uzcategui said. “If he wants to do something, go to some outreach program where he can do some good. And I get it, his First Amendment right. But you don’t sit during the presenting of the colors, and you don’t sit during the national anthem. That is not the way to do it.”
A sign in the crowd read: “You’re an American. Act like one.”
But Domenique Banks, a 23-year-old fan from nearby Oceanside, California, got the quarterback to sign his Kaepernick jersey before the game.
“I told him I appreciate what he is standing up for,” Banks said. “He said he appreciated it. Most of the people I talk to say the same thing. I don’t like that he is sitting during the national anthem, but I appreciate what he is standing for.”
Kaepernick was thrilled to be joined by Reid, the 49ers’ starting safety and a fourth-year veteran from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Reid and Kaepernick decided together on kneeling rather than sitting during the anthem.
“I just wanted to show my support for him,” Reid said. “He wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to the military or the national anthem, so he decided to change his position to be more respectful, but still bring awareness to the issues that he believes are going on in this country, and that I wholeheartedly believe exist in this country.”
In Oakland, Lane sat on the bench behind his standing teammates before Seattle’s game against the Raiders. Lane said he doesn’t know Kaepernick, but was “standing behind him.”
“It’s something I plan to keep on doing until I feel like justice has been served,” Lane said. “No, I didn’t tell anyone I was going to do it. I just did it. … I don’t mean no disrespect toward anybody, but I’m just standing behind what I believe.”
Kaepernick kneeled next to Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who went to training camp with the Seahawks last year as a long snapper. Boyer, who wrote a conciliatory open letter to Kaepernick earlier this week, spoke with the quarterback about his stance this week. He posted a photo of the two on Twitter with a caption reading, “Let’s just keep moving forward. This is what America should be all about.”
When the same naval officer performed “God Bless America” before the fourth quarter, Kaepernick remained standing and then applauded along with his teammates.
Kaepernick doesn’t intend his stance to be a criticism of the military. When the Chargers’ public-address announcer asked fans to recognize active military personnel during a timeout, the quarterback stood and enthusiastically applauded along with his teammates and the entire stadium.
“I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put themselves in harm’s way for my freedom of speech, and my freedoms in this country, and my freedom to take a seat or take a knee,” Kaepernick said. “So I have the utmost respect for them, and I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way.”
Kaepernick’s social activism, which only emerged publicly in recent weeks, also included support for the Black Lives Matter movement through social media.
While negative reaction to the quarterback has been strong, Kaepernick also has been widely praised for his commitment to his stance. Veterans and military members tweeted their support for Kaepernick in recent days under the hashtag “VeteransForKaepernick.”
“It was something I was thinking about to make sure that I’m not just talking about something, but I’m actively being involved and actively trying to make a change in these communities,” Kaepernick said. “I’ve been very blessed to be in this position and be able to make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people.”
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in Oakland contributed to this story.
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Online:
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP—NFL
70 responses to “Kaepernick, 49ers teammate kneel during national anthem”
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Society will judge them.
Maybe, but is failing to stand for a song really on the same level as systemic discrimination against groups of citizens? People say “I can be just as mad at him as he is at racism” — but WHY? Racism hurts many people. Not standing up doesn’t really hurt anyone. You can feel offended, or disagree, but it’s not hurting you. Equating the two “wrongs” is wrong.
In my humble opinion, it is his actions of disrespect that is in question. While his message has merit…his choice of delivery is not. I believe this may be an attempt to leverage his position of a lack of skills, mental toughness and leadership and then spinning being “victim of society” to head off impending lack luster performance. Kaepernick is definitely not in the same league as say…Peyton Manning 🙂
I get the first two sentences, but the following ones, I’m not too sure about. Are you saying that he is doing this protest to hide his lack of skills on the field?
Manning was accused of using PEDs last season, then his muscle and attorney went to the home of the informant and “persuaded” him to recant. Manning insists all the HGH sent to his home was for his wife, not him. No NFL investigation. No interviewing witnesses. No demand for Manning’s cell phone records. No leaks of misinformation to ESPN. No twisting of evidence, and fabricated science to make their case. Nothing. I don’t know if Manning is a cheat or not. But he could be. And the NFL leadership sure is.
The 49er’s look like complete fools. Everyone already knows about Kaepernick. This is what happens when you pay a complete moronski millions.
Says the moronski that gets paid peanuts…
Liberty and freedom are the highest of societal goals. That said, if those noble attributes are not equally enjoyed and shared, then both collective and individual action is necessary. Moreover, the underpinnings and responsibilities of Liberty are not static and from time to time, we must stretch the muscles and memories of what the constitution provides for ALL of us. In short, his actions were exactly the types of actions our founding fathers sought to protect when they articulated that great document.
Agreed. Also be nice if he stopped throwing picks
I guess that’s how they roll in Eli.
If you mean, at YLS, the world’s preeminent law school for generations–yes, the study of what the actual history of the constitution dictates past pithy and shallow ideology is taken seriously. So, while you might reside in the du jour political posturing of the day, granular scholarship of our constitution reveals that the action Colin has taken, is in fact, the exact type of societal protest that it aimed to not only protect, but moreover, cultivate and nurture.
Lux et veritas….
“du jour political posturing of the day”
“du jour” is French for “of the day”
So I think it should be either “political posturing of the day” or “du jour political posturing”, but not both.
Nothing personal, but your entries sometimes sound like those of a sophomore who has just acquired a big word dictionary, and hasn’t yet quite got them right.
From a literary sense, du jour, is meant to confer, contemporary or present, thus, the contemporary posturing of the day. And btw, there is no such thing as a big word dictionary.
Actually, I think there is. E.g. Bob’s Dictionary of Big Words (you can buy it on Amazon).
But to be more precise, I was thinking of the following, which you can also buy on Amazon.
“The Big Book Of Words You Should Know To Sound Smart: A Guide for Aspiring Intellectuals”
Glad to know that you are using the finest in children’s books to enrich your vocabulary.
Sorry Ike, on this one, she’s completely correct. Check your Larousse bilingues. It’s equivalent to saying “Soup du jour of the day.” Redundant.
Then, you also support the public backlash that his actions have created. Personally, I don’t see how his actions will lead to positive outcomes. Whether he intended to or not, his public show of disrespect for the American flag along with his poorly chosen words will not lead the people, who need to be lead, in a positive direction.
Remains to be seen if the public and sponsors responds by boycotting SF games or is football so important in their lives to let Kapernick get away this. I have a feeling that the majority of the public think football is too important and if Kapernick wins games for SF will tolerate his anti American B S. Also think more NFL players and Black Lives Matter type fans will join and support Kaepernick once they see there is no consequence for what he is doing.
Huh? Consequences for what he is doing? The sooner you look the otherway, the faster it goes away.
The Kaepernic foundation: serving race relations by outreach,life skills, police ohana lost in the line of duty…oh wait, thats’s toi much like wotk.
Kaepernick is all washed up as a football player and a person. he was never a very good football player and has not accomplished anything on the football field. Now the 49ers
are stuck with this dud. He cannot get any attention on the football field therefore he is trying some sideline antics. He probably thinks that his actions will actually prevent
violence against minorities. The 49ers are now probably afraid to cut him because of fear of criticism. The TV cameras should not focus on him during the pre game because
this is exactly what he wants.
Correcttion,,the 49ers,,pragmatically, cannot cut him, as his contract is guaranteed. To do so, would mean a 12 million hit, in addition to picking up the contract of another QB. So, in short, you are incorrect.
I think your position or maybe it’s positions are in conflict. Is he doing this, as you say to, “prevent violence against minorities,” or to prevent the 49ers from getting rid of him?
Other than being wheel chair bound; if out of uniform, stand with hand placed over heart, if in uniform, stand and salute. While this is a rather simple gesture of respect it symbolizes a more significant gesture of respect (manners). There is also a simple protocol regarding prayer. The aforementioned was instilled in young men (not boys) during my tenure of as a Scoutmaster…if anything I believe it instilled respect for their Family, fellow Scouts, Community, Nation and let’s not forget themselves.
Let’s not forget another scout message which is to discriminate against the gay community, even though they are also part of families, community and the nation.
Uzcategui’s comment is spot on: “I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag. If he wants to do something, go to some outreach program where he can do some good. And I get it, his First Amendment right. But you don’t sit during the presenting of the colors, and you don’t sit during the national anthem. That is not the way to do it.”
Agreed.
I second that. What a total disrespect to the country that provided him a decent upbringing, education and the opportunity to step into the NFL industry and become an instant millionaire.
What about black on black crime. Stop blaming others for the problems in their neighborhoods. We are going to have this problem until the parents of children who commit violence start acting like grown ups. Since SA didn’t report it, Clinton emails regarding BLM was to never mention black on black crime or meet with BLM activists unless it was a small group. I don ‘t want mynext President to coddle some citizens and vilify the rest.
Spot on.
I also don’t want to hear Trump having people coming up to talk about the illegal Mexicans are killing our citizens when even more citizens are killing other citizens. NO I can’t stand Hillary either. I am voting independent.
Excellent post. The current administration’s bias toward Blacks has actually exacerbated the racial divide in this country (by design, in my opinion).
I actually thought his expression, by kneeling, was not offensive.It’s much more respectful than sitting.
Condoning his actions by justifying it as an act of ‘free speech’ does nothing positive for our society but cause an injurious infection to start and fester as it draws more and more liberal and malcontents into it’s fold. The guarantee of ‘Free speech’ has been taken beyond it’s intent and stretched to the absolute limits by those whose agenda differs from the normally accepted standards of societal interactions. I’m an old man, a veteran and I experienced a better America before the draft was taken away to allow the malcontents to prosper in number and abuse, to what was once a great system. It had it’s faults but citizen patriots and love of Country, God and family were many, not like it is today.
The majority of people wanted a better life and worked for it. They did not ‘expect’ it to be given to them because of false interpretations of ‘free speech and a false sense of entitlements’.
So veteran’s entitlements and Medicare entitlements are ok, but not others?
RYMATS….respect and agree with your post.
Well crafted statement. But, I totally disagree. The actions are exactly what freedom of speech is intended to be. I’m interested to hear about the once great system you describe. Maybe the 60s? When there was still mass and accepted segregation. And, last I checked, America was founded by malcontents.
Well said. Herein lies the tension and beauty of our liberty. Problem is some want these freedoms, but only in their conscripted and effete version. Liberty and expression, but only if it meets my parameters and notions of what I find acceptable. Folks would be well counseled to read about the “period of enlightenment” in which founding fathers like Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were participants–they were quite leery of such affectations of liberty and quite fond of public displays of cordial disagreement.
The view of Patriotism held by Kaepernick’s critics would have fit right in with King George and the Royalist, and with the Third Reich as well. Kaepernick’s protest would have been persecuted by them (“how dare he disrespect our greatness and our militery glory”), but embraced as love of country by the founding fathers (“he is willing to speak out for greater liberty and equality for all”). You are correct.
Keep in mind their are several “American Nations”, but with a strong north-south divide in terms of values and views of honor, respect, freedom and equality. For southern aristocracy equality was unimportant. Instead, it demanded respect and viewed freedom as freedom from government interference in the exercise of power in private affairs. Government was seen as a potential threat to this, and expected to protect the powerful when needed, but otherwise do little. There was no concern with corruption.
The north was obsessed with social equality, freedom from interference by one’s neighbors and powerful private interests. Government was made up of a community of equals, active and even intrusive, and acheck on the powerful and the corrupt.
This is an oversimplification. For more detail, see:
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-11-nations-of-the-united-states-2015-7
Kaepernick’s values are northern, and fit well with SF, but it’s driving “southerners’ crazy.
I read that he is making 11 or 12 million a year, and at the same time is complaining about being a member of an oppressed minority.
100’s of thousands of white Union soldiers died to free his black ancestors from slavery, which ultimately gave him this opportunity.
Perhaps, in gratitude, he could donate a few million year to those of their white ancestors who are now badly in need of some help.
My take is why give him media attention! Once is enough. He gestured his or jested his take on his belief so why give him another forum unless the media wants to make it an issue. It’s his personal feelings and leave it be! Why give him further opportunities?
Why give him further opportunity? Because each and every comment, on each and every game day will guarantee it. People will tune in to SF49ERS just to watch the National Anthem, lol.
Enough of this nonsense already; just play football.
Yes! Nothing to see. Let’s move on. Instead of whining about being ‘oppressed’, why not voice some gratitude for the opportunities that he has had and for those that helped make it possible.
Yeah, play ball and let’s see him SITTING on the bench.
I’ll stand for the American flag, just as I’ll stand for any country’s flag as a sign of respect, but in all reality I’m not patriotic at all and have zero pride in being an American. It’s not like it’s some big accomplishment in being born American. It’s just that I don’t feel sitting for the national anthem is an appropriate way to address Kaepernick’s supposed issues with this country. The flag’s a symbol. What that symbol means is different to different people. However, don’t see how the flag solely, or even primarily, represents police brutality, discrimination against blacks and other social wrongs. In other words, it’s cherry picking. What about affirmative action, anti-discrimination laws, welfare programs and other social safety nets that blacks have benefited from? While racism is very real, Kaepernick would gain a lot more credibility if he publicly addressed the problems blacks face that are a result of their own behavior rather than some umbrella boogeyman called racism.
Morimoto: You hit the right cause as to why they’re feeling oppressed and living in such poor circumstances because they chooses to. As you’ve stated, “the problems blacks face that are a result of their own behavior.” Unjustified looting, stealing in retail outlets, (reason many retail outlets have shut down in black communities, too much shrinkage), damaging and burning private and government property, refusing to listen to the commands of law enforcement officers, shooting and killing without cause and many blacks feel that the government owe them, because of being a minority. Then again, there are thousands of blacks that have become successful because of being aware that the opportunities are plentiful if you put your mind to it. It’s all about striving to become a productive citizen of this country and the freedoms are there to become one.
Get your facts straight. As a group, Euro-Americans living in poverty have received far more welfare-benefits than impoverished African Americans. Same goes for Medicaid benefits.
Those “blacks” have benefitted from all those antidiscrimination laws? Really? That’s special treatment? Do you hear what you just said?
Did you ever ask yourself why the USA needed such laws after nearly 200 years?
The lack of discrimination is not special treatment, and no reason for gratitude if the USA ever gets to that point.
Have any documentation to back up anything you’ve said?
He may try to justify his disrespectful behavior; but really, it’s just plain lame.
I get that this young man is upset about US history. So am I as a lot of deceit and disrespect went into building the USA. However, it is our country and instead of calling attention to his dismay, perhaps he should contribute some of those millions of dollars he’s “earning” to folks who are in need? He should be celebrating the opportunities open to him and helping others whose horizons are far lower and darker.
Actually Kap looked pretty good on the field. Mark my words, under Chip Kellys offense, Kap is the better qb. There is a reason why he was given a big contract. San Francisco is diverse city. They will show up to watch football. “In God we Trust”, but every Sunday sinners choose to skip church,scream,swear and drink beer.
He looked pretty good because the announcers kept saying none of the Chargers defensive starters were playing. Wanted to see Teo get in some tackles on Kaepernick.
I really don’t think the chargers starters would have made a difference.
He’s just another dumb jock, no surprises here.
It should not be a big deal. Everyone does what they want to for different reasons. Some have religious beliefs. Don’t pass judgement on these people. Why not worry about things that really matter in the world of today. Stop reporters on publishing these articles. I really don’t care to hear about this. He didn’t rob a bank or shot someone or place a bomb in the stadium. Please publish more interesting news.
Depth Chart: Ponder, Gabbert, Kaeperpick (practice squad)
A fifth year player cannot go to the practice squad–only first and second year players. Further, his contract is guaranteed for 12 million.
What depth chart are you looking at? Gabbert is the starter, Kaepernick the backup and Driskel third string. If Ponder even makes the team it’ll only be because the 49ers plan on benching Kap the entire season.
he is selfish and self centered about oppression of blacks when he should be honoring what the anthem stands for. he is still a traitor to this country especially when he wore a shirt with Fidal Castro on it who really oppressed people and wearing socks with a pig and a policeman cap on top of the pig. kick that radical muslin lover out of this country.
Learn to spell and write.
Lol, now he’s a muslim? Wow, 64hoo, stop.
Riding the pine
I understand that he is a recent covert to Islam which may explain why he is doing what he is doing and disrespecting the national anthem
and the flag. He needs to study history as he will find that the biggest and baddest slave traders were and have always been the followers of
Mohammed. And slavery still flourishes among those who follow Islam.
Poor character individual. It’s a two sided issue and he doesnt mention the other half at all like Jordan and other educated BLM supporters. A nice hit on the field will get him what he wants. A permanent seat on the bench.
wish he would cut his hair, so ghetto…………
Nah, he needs the padding in his helmet when he gets crunched by the opposing teams defense.
Let him kneel and pray that he gets to play.
“When the same naval officer performed “God Bless America” before the fourth quarter”
What? It wasn’t enough to put a Broadway show tune in the seventh inning stretch in place of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”? They’re doing this at football games now too?
To the extent that professional sports feels it has to kowtow to this jingoism, I’m going to ignore it from here on out. This is getting ridiculous.
Our National Anthem represent our United States of America! United in a free country enables us to pursuit our dreams to the best of our abilities. This freedom has been fought by countless men and women throughout our history. It is sung during times and events to remind and unite us the freedom we possess amidst a world shattered by unrest and tyranny of autocratic leaders! What other means other than our Anthem can briefly unite us all in a “chicken skin” moment and bring us together as one great America!? Don’t let a few clueless people take this sacred moment of voicing our freedom with their misguided agendas! let’s not the death of our heroes whose remains lies in our national cemeteries here and abroad, be in vain!