Sitting during the National Anthem before the San Francisco 49ers preseason game with the Green Bay Packers Aug. 27, 28-year-old 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick rocked the boat, not only in the National Football League but around the country. “Yes, I’ll continue to sit,” said Kaepernick, not knowing the consequences of his actions on the NFL, 49ers and the country. “I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change,” said Kaepernick trying to justify sitting during the National Anthem. Kaepernick’s protest refers to the spate of high-profile police killings in recent years prompting President Barack Obama to talk about racial inequality and criminal justice system reform. With Obama giving credibility to what looks like an epidemic of police brutality, it’s no wonder less politically savvy athletes and celebrities make statements.
When 19-year-old Michael Brown was shot in the face by Ferguson, Mo. police office Daren Wilson April 9, 2014, eyewitnesses claimed Brown had his hands up. Whatever went wrong with a routine police stop, forensic analysis proved that Brown tried to lunge for Wilson’s gun at point-blank-range. Whatever the truth, it didn’t stop NBA players from wearing “Stop, Don’t Shoot-T-shirts.” Three months later, 29-year-old Eric Garner died July 17, 2014 in Staten Island when the NYPD put him in a chokehold, after telling officers, ”I can’t breathe.” NBA players, including LeBron James, wore T-shirts saying, “I can’t breathe.” Whatever the problems of police abuse or inner city police mishaps, Obama gave militant groups like Black Lives Matter more license, speaking about how the U.S. criminal justice systems disproportionately targets minorities, especially African Americans.
Kaepernick’s protest to sit during the National Anthem follows the July 13, 2016 ESPYS where LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul spoke out about the need for improved relations between the police and inner city neighborhoods. It was only a matter of time before someone from the NFL put in their two cents. Colin was adopted at birth by Fond du Lac, Wisconsin middle class white residents Rick and Teresa Kaepernick where they moved the family to Turlock, Calif. Colin became an A-student, standout three-sport athlete at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, Calif. Colin was star football player at University of Nevada Reno, eventually drafted in the fourth round by San Francisco. Before Kaepernick sat during he National Anthem Aug. 27, he was on his team’s chopping block before announcing its final roster Sept. 3., prompting Colin’s rebellious grandstanding.
When you consider the saturation media coverage on high-profile police killings, it’s no wonder that minorities, especially African Americans, think racism, registering protests. Black athletes and celebrities feel a duty to speak out on racial injustice. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag from a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL media Aug. 27. Like others watching 24/7 cable news, it’s easy to overly simplify complex topics like inner city policing. With over 17,985 U.S. police departments and with over 750,000 sworn-in officers, it’s easy for mishaps to occur. Kaepernick doesn’t know enough about policing to know that the vast majority of officer-involved-shootings have nothing to do with racism, despite all the media hype. When you have Obama pointing to racism, it gives rise to black militant groups like Black Lives Matter.
Fingering the white police as racists prompted the July 16 Dallas massacre, where a militant black sniper killed five police officers. Obama changed his tune promptly after the massacre, no longer openly opining about racial inequality or a breakdown in the criminal justice system. Kaepernick’s protest and public statements show someone shooting from the hip, neither informed nor prepared to justify his actions. Sitting during the National Anthem, no matter how sincere, is the equivalent of flag-burning. NFL officials work hard to promote a police and military friendly brand. Kaepernick’s sit-in hurts the NFL brand, slapping every patriotic American in the face. Putting race and civil rights before country, Kaepernick confuses his free speech rights over un-American conduct. His loyalty to the flag is what gives him, and other citizens, the chance to work on racial equality and social justice.
Colin’s inappropriate protest came too close to his career ending with the 49ers. Certain public statements show he’s come unhinged. “You have Hillary [Clinton] who has called black teens or black kids super predators. You have Donald Trump who is openly racist,” Kaepernick told CBS Sports showing that he’s, at the very least, under stress. Whether Colin has opinions about anything, it’s not appropriate to embarrass the NFL, his 49er teammates or himself. “I think it’s a terrible thing, and you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try. It won’t happen,” GOP candidate Donald Trump told radio host Dori Monson. Whatever unresolved problems in the U.S., it doesn’t help things to trash the National Anthem. Kaepernick’s action puts his race before country, embarrasses his team and the NFL and offends every law-abiding patriotic American.
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