Thursday, March 28, 2024

Which NFL Players Have Joined Kaepernick’s Anthem Protest?

colin kaepernick

*President Obama recently made a statement defending San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem. And while the usual suspects are up in arms over Obama’s remarks, more and more professional athletes are joining Kaepernick’s anthem protest.

Over the weekend, Kansas City Chiefs player Marcus Peters and New England Patriots Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty raised their fists in the air while the anthem played. Four players from the Miami Dolphins also took a knee, while soccer player Megan Rapinoe took the national anthem protest to women’s soccer.

Obama said that the football player was “exercising his constitutional right,” noting that there has been a long history of sports figures making political statements.

“I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about,” said the president during a news conference. “And if nothing else, what he’s done is he’s generated more conversation around some topics that need to be talked about.”

Kaepernick’s political statement on August 26 has since created considerable controversy among the American public. His actions have been criticized as disrespectful to the U.S. and to U.S. veterans.

After refusing to stand, Kaepernick, who is biracial and was raised by two adoptive white parents, said that he would not “stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Last Thursday, Kaepernick stayed kneeling during the national anthem once again. He later said that he fully intended to continue his silent protest during the regular season.

He told reporters, “I’m not anti-American. I love America. I love people. That’s why I’m doing this. I want to help make America better. I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from.”

Though Kaepernick was once considered one of the NFL’s top players – he led the 49ers to the Superbowl in 2012 – he was benched last season and will start this upcoming season as the backup quarterback to Blaine Gabbert. Regardless of his second-string position and his recent controversial actions, Kaepernick’s jersey is currently the fifth-best selling jersey on the NFL’s online store.

Of course, when you search his name on Google, his refusal to sit during the national anthem is among the top three organic search results (and 60% of all clicks go to those top three results). Therefore, football fans are wondering if, despite his accomplished athletic history, his political statement won’t be the culmination of his legacy.

While many football fans want to keep politics out of the Football Sunday, as more players join Kaepernick’s anthem protest, that’s not likely to happen anytime soon.

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

YOU MAY LIKE

SEARCH

- Advertisement -

TRENDING