Colin Kaepernick, the man who started the #TakeAKnee protest within the NFL, has come forward saying he’s willing to stand for the National Anthem if he can play in the NFL again.
He’s had trouble getting a new contract lined up due to his protest. However, dozens of quarterbacks, many with skills demonstrably weaker than Kaepernick’s, have been signed in his wake.
So let’s make one thing perfectly clear… no one is required or even obligated to sign him or even give him a tryout. He made his choice and these are the consequences. You’re allowed to protest and even speak your mind but that doesn’t mean you’ll be in the clear.
At the start of it, Kaepernick told the NFL Media: ‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.
‘To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.’
BREAKING: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick tells CBS he’ll stand during national anthem if given chance to play football in NFL again.
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 8, 2017
Kaepernick has begun supporting charitable endeavors while off the field. though we don’t agree with all of them.
Just a week ago we reported how he gave $25,000 with a $1,000,000 pledge total to an organization that celebrates a cop killer, Assata’s Daughters
Assata’s Daughters is named after Former Black Liberation Army member Assata Shakur who was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1970’s. Shakur show state trooper Werner Foerster, killing him, and was sentenced to life in prison.
And protests have exploded across the NFL, driven largely by critical September commentary from President Trump. However, it’s clear that he’s willing to focus on goals beyond just kneeling if it means a return to the NFL.
Here’s Colin explaining the protests…
A few weeks ago, Trump referred to a player who protests as a ‘son of a b***h’ and called for them to be fired by the team owner.
The players’ union along with the NFL condemned his remarks and said that players had the right to protest peacefully.
But on Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence said that he walked out of the Indianapolis Colts game against the San Francisco 49ers because some of the players knelt during the national anthem.
‘I left today’s Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,’ Pence tweeted.
‘While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem.’