Colin Kaepernick talked to the media on Sunday for the first time since he became the most talked about man in the NFL. Kaepernick, made headlines when he refused to stand up during the national anthem before a San Francisco 49ers preseason game, saying 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.”
It was a bold move by Kaepernick, one that has led to people taking pretty extreme stances regarding athletes, race relations, and honoring the flag of the United States. Some may have thought that Kaepernick would try to soften his stance at a media appearance on Sunday, but he decided that he was going to use his airtime to let everyone know that this protest isn’t going to end anytime soon. (Quotes via Niners Wire)
Will you continue to sit?
CK: Yes. I’ll continue to sit. . . I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change. When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.
Among a bunch of other things, Kaepernick also talked about why he is the only player who is doing this and how he isn’t afraid of any consequences that could come from his actions.
Kaepernick didn’t do what some athletes do when they face controversy and try to soften their stance on things. Instead, he was brutally honest about his intentions, his plan, and what he hopes to achieve by sitting down during the anthem.
Colin you’re the only player in the NFL taking this stand. Why do you think you’re the only one doing this?
CK: I think there’s a lot of consequences that come along with this. There’s a lot of people that don’t want to have this conversation. They’re scared they might lose their job. Or they might not get the endorsements. They might not to be treated the same way. Those are things I’m prepared to handle. Things that other people might not be ready for. It’s just a matter of where you’re at in your life. Where your mind’s at. At this point, I’ve been blessed to be able to get this far and have the privilege of being able to be in the NFL, making the kind of money I make and enjoy luxuries like that. I can’t look in the mirror and see people dying on the street that should have the same opportunities that I‘ve had. And say ‘You know what? I can live with myself.’ Because I can’t if I just watch.
Also, there was a bit of football-related news with Kaepernick on Sunday night. Jay Glazer reported that Kaepernick may not be on the Niners’ roster for long for football-related reasons, not because of anything involving his one-man protest.
.@JayGlazer on Kaepernick: "I’d be shocked if he’s on this roster by the end of this year. He may not be on it in the next two weeks.”
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) August 29, 2016
This isn’t a huge shock, as Kaepernick has steadily declined after leading the team to the Super Bowl during the 2012-13 season. But still, the timing for all of this is awkward, because even though Glazer is adamant that this has nothing to do with the national anthem, plenty people will interpret this as a punishment for speaking his mind.
(Via Niners Wire)
