Colin Kaepernick Pledges $1 Million to Charity as Anthem Protest Spreads

Kaepernick has been refusing to stand during the national anthem this preseason in order to protest “a country that oppresses Black people and people of color”.

Kaepernick and teammate Eric Reid took a knee during the anthem before the 49ers’ game against the Chargers in San Diego on Thursday night.

“When there’s significant change and I feel like the flag represents what it’s supposed to represent in this country, I’ll stand”, he told reporters Sunday. Like I’ve been telling you, we have a great group of guys that lead this team, and they’re going to help us as we move forward. “It’s not right that they’re not put in a position to succeed or given those opportunities to succeed”.

Kaepernick explained at the press conference that he made a decision to kneel, rather than sit, during the national anthem after he and Reid had a conversation with Nate Boyer, an NFL free agent who served as a U.S. Army Green Beret. “And we were talking to him about, how can we get the message back on track?”

Rather than remaining seated on the bench as he had done previously, Kaepernick took a knee on the field in a show of respectful protest when the national anthem was played. That came off as more respectful to the country, to the anthem, to the military.

Boyer even went as far as writing an open letter to Kaepernick about why he’s both agreed and disagreed with the quarterback’s protest.

“I wasn’t trying to say anything”. I don’t mean no disrespect toward anybody, but I’m just standing behind what I believe. I think it’s worth doing.

Kaepernick has said he plans to continue into the regular season.

Racial tensions are mounting in the U.S., where a string of recent police killings and subsequent revenge killings have sparked protests across the nation.

After the game, Kaepernick said he would donate the first $1 million he earned this season to organizations that work with the community.

In Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane also didn’t stand for the anthem before the start of that game Thursday night. “Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed”, he added.