3 Need to Know Facts About Colin Kaepernick's Protest
#3: What's the Big Deal with the Anthem?
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Anyone who’s even heard of football aught to know that at the beginning of every game, everyone on the field and in the stands gets up and sings the National Anthem of the United States, The Star Spangled Banner. So why did one quarterback in the San Francisco 49ers refuse to do so before a preseason game against the Greenbay packers on August 26th, 2016? In response to this exact question, Kaepernick stated that he refused to honor a flag and a country that - in his eyes - stands for the oppression of African-American’s and people of color throughout the United States, referring specifically to ongoing trends of police brutality and officers quote “getting away with murder.” Kaepernick’s stance echoes a sentiment that has been growing in the country for many years now, as several high profile police shootings involving unarmed African-Americans having occurred in the 21st century.
#2: Is a Football Game Really the Best Place to Make This Statement?
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Kaeprenick’s actions have unsurprisingly fallen under harsh criticism, with some saying that he’s missing the point of the flag, that he doesn’t understand what’s really going on with police officers in America, and that his protest is a slight against those who have served and fought for their country. On the other hand, athletes using their public recognition to bring light to social issues are nothing new. The legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson famously fought controversy as a black man in a white dominated sport, and the image of John Carlos and Tommie Smith giving what was seen as the black power salute after winning medals in the 1968 Olympics has gone down in history. Sports have always been especially tied to patriotism, and even a simple action on the playing field make serious shockwaves.
#1: Will Kaepernick's Protest Have an Effect, or Is It Just a Lot of Noise?
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Kaepernick has stirred the pot for sure, but after having potentially put his career in jeopardy, the question is what kind of an effect is this going to have? As quickly as controversy rose, support for Kaepernick’s actions rose as well, with many veterans taking on the hashtag #veteransforkaepernick. For every one supporter though, there seems to be someone else outraged by Kaepernick’s move, with some calling him an idiot, and presidential candidate Donald Trump stating that stating that the NFLer should maybe find a new country if this one doesn’t work for him. Others have suggested Kaepernick knew that he stood to be cut from the team because of significant weight loss following multiple surgeries. So he chose this as his exit strategy, but ultimately misread the landscape. Whereas he thought his act of civil disobedience would come across as commentary against police violence and profiling against blacks, many viewed it as an insult against the military, which is the very institution that has fought and spilled blood to defend the flag. On August 31st, 2016, more vicious backlash arose against Kaepernick. This included an anonymous and off-the-record assertion from NFL execs that suggested the hatred towards him is as great as that directed towards former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth, who was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder against a woman carrying his unborn child. Despite this sentiment, the NFL has issued a statement – on the record - essentially saying that players are not obligated to stand during the national anthem, and that the purpose of it during the pre-game ceremony is “to honor our country” and all the rights, liberties, and freedoms that it grants, including “the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression.” So what do you think of Kaepernick’s protest? Is he fighting the good fight, or wrongfully insulting an established institution. For more on what’s happening right now, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
