For about a month now, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has conducted a peaceful protest in which he at first sat but now kneels during the playing of the national anthem. The protest went unnoticed until the third preseason game. This is when the Kaepernick controversy began to gain widespread national media coverage.
At first, he was alone but has since then gained many supporters throughout the NFL that joined him in one way or another. Competitors and teammates alike will kneel or sometimes raise a fist in the air reminiscent of the 1968 Olympics black power salute.
The reasoning behind the protest is clear and direct. Kaepernick has gone on the record and released this statement to the media:
"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 that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand."
Kaepernick’s protest has undoubtedly successfully stirred the pot. If nothing else is accomplished, Kaepernick has at least sparked conversation across the country about a topic that most are uncomfortable speaking on. Police brutality is real, Black Lives Matter is not just a hash tag, and the oppression of people of color in this country is not a thing of the past. Kaepernick is using his platform as a professional athlete to drive forward an agenda of social justice. As a result, he is being crucified in the media for exercising his right to peacefully protest. Former republican candidate Ted Cruz had this to say to a reporter:
"Here's a peaceful protest: never buy another shoe, shirt, or jersey of rich spoiled athletes who dishonor our flag,"
Those that agree that Kaepernick’s decision to kneel is dishonoring the flag are contradicting themselves. The men and women that have fought for this country and have died for this country did so defending our Constitution. It’s what sets America apart from many other nations. In the first amendment to the Constitution we were given the right to protest peacefully. If we as a people, we as American citizens do not exercise that right, then those people have died in vain.
The fact of the matter is, social injustices occur on a daily basis. However, no one seems to be willing to talk about that. People in the media would rather shame him for daring to go against the grain and stand up for what he believes. Rewind back through history, this country was founded by great men who were willing to do the exact same thing. The United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. However, not all are truly free and it takes the voice of the truly brave to change that.
