As most people probably know by now, Colin Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49er’s quarterback, chose to kneel during the National Anthem of a football game. Kaerpernick claims he chose to kneel to take a stance against police brutality and racial issues in the U.S. According to Washington Post, “In the last year, 986 people were killed in police shootings.” About 400 of these were considered racial related shootings. Whether or not each individual shooting was justified, and that’s something only the officer and the victim truly know, they happened. 986 people were killed. 986 peoples’ families and friends will have to go on with their lives without their fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends.

Racism stretches so much farther than white people making racial slurs in class. Racism takes form in violence, and in the work place. Many people like to believe that because we have an African-American president, racism does not exist in this country anymore. Minorities are constantly being paid less than white people, for doing the same job, and often, doing it better. According to USA Today “Blacks and Asians are not getting equal pay for equal work in the high-tech industry, and Hispanics are paid about $16,000 less a year.” This statistic is outrageous.

This country was built on a foundation of racism. The colonists we learn about in eighth grade, physically came to the Americas and murdered thousands of people living here in peace. The colonists and “early patriots” weren’t heroes, they were murderers.

The majority of people whom I have personally heard bashing Kaepernick for his decisions are the same people who criticize the Black Lives Matter movement for being “violent” and “uncivilized.” Colin Kaepernick protested in the most peaceful way possible, and reporters still acted as if he burned down a city. The people who criticize Kaepernick so harshly, are often the same people defending the constitution to their full extent in all other circumstances. These are often the people turning a blind eye Donald Trump makes a racist comment “because the first amendment protects his freedom of speech”, but when a man wants to protest against a system of racism, it is unacceptable. People who criticize Kaepernick for his decisions cannot truly claim to defend the constitution.

I have personally heard many people say “instead of kneeling during the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick should spend some of his money to help the issues he stands for.” But why should he have to do that? Why should he have to spend money on a broken, racist system? Since the first game where he chose to kneel, other athletes have followed suit and choosing not to honor the National Anthem. In one particular instance on Monday, September 12, police officers refused to escort the Miami Dolphins out of the stadium until they stood for the National Anthem. The mission statement of the Miami Police Department is to “create a safe environment, while improving the quality of life for those we serve.” By choosing not to escort the Miami Dolphins for simply practicing their freedom of speech, the Miami Police Department has failed to comply with their mission statement.

As a white woman who has never had to experience racism towards myself or my family, I am proud to say, I would kneel with Colin Kaepernick.