Tony Stewart Called Colin Kaepernick An ‘Idiot,’ And The Internet Immediately Took Him To Task

Deciding to ignore the inspiration behind the protest, the nation has a laser-focus on Colin Kaepernick’s decision to protest police brutality by sitting during the national anthem during NFL games. This has led to just about everyone, from fan to peer giving the hottest of takes. Count Tony Stewart, Nascar driver, as one of the many people who don’t agree with Kaepernick’s protest.

https://twitter.com/TonyStewart/status/770377330325909506

The observations on Stewart’s nationalism and possible white privilege came quick and hard.

But the most cutting rebuttal to Stewart’s tweet involved Kevin Ward, who Stewart hit with his car and killed in 2014.

https://twitter.com/Ethan_Booker/status/770383461211312128

But to some, the important part was where the replay was showed, rather than what the replay showed.

https://twitter.com/samknight1/status/770408810968145920

Still, Twitter wouldn’t let up.

https://twitter.com/Ethan_Booker/status/770394019465719808

It was a one note pushback, but one that obviously hit close to home. Stewart was cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of Kevin Ward when a toxicology report found marijuana in his system that was apparently enough to impair his judgement.

https://twitter.com/CSAviate/status/770384622383357952

Veterans, who have fought and bled for the country, have begun explaining why what Kaepernick did is the greatest form of freedom and expression — the freedom to protest.

It’s a debate that isn’t going to end soon, but the debate needs to further the discussion of why he was sitting in the first place, not whether it was wrong to sit.