Civil rights protesters, take note: if you want to draw huge amounts of attention to your cause, do it at an American football game, preferably as the national anthem is being played. Being San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick probably doesn’t hurt, either.
Before this morning’s pre-season loss against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick remained seated as the anthem played, later explaining “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.”
His stance has already drawn severe condemnation from some corners. A cursory glance of his Twitter reveals torrents of abuse, and some disgusted fans have even started burning his jersey in counter-protest.
49ers fans burning Kaepernick’s jersey to the National Anthem pic.twitter.com/MILA3AxNld
— BLACK ADAM SCHEFTER (@B1ackSchefter) August 28, 2016
You hate my flag? You love your freedom of speech? Here’s mine! @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/jDINtyPQqz
— KY Scarlett (@ScarlettO66) August 28, 2016
2016 is a diptych in which you can compare everyone’s opinions on Colin Kaepernick and Muhammad Ali.
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 28, 2016
Photo: Twitter.
