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Sports in Society

Kaepernick Backs Protest Against National Anthem, Says He Will Continue To Do So

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick before Friday's game against the Packers refused to stand for the National Anthem, and yesterday said he would "continue to sit" this season during its playing, according to Eric Branch of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Kaepernick for 18 minutes spoke with reporters about "gun violence instead of game plans, racism instead of reading a defense." Kaepernick: "I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change. When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand." He added, "There's a lot of consequences that come along with this. There's a lot of people that don't want to have this conversation. They're scared they might lose their job. Or they might not get the endorsements. They might not be treated the same way. Those are things I'm prepared to handle. Things that other people might not be ready for." Kaepernick said he was not "bashing the military." He said, "I'm seeing things happen to people that don't have a voice, people that don't have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change. So I'm in the position where I can do that, and I'm going to do that for people that can't" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/29).

RESPECT THE TROOPS: ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner noted Kaepernick was "clearly aware of the backlash he's received," as he "made it a point to clarify that he has nothing against the military." Kaepernick "covered a variety of subjects, ranging from his reasoning behind sitting to whether he'll fear for his safety on the road this year to the presidential election." Kaepernick said that his decision to sit "wasn't made spur of the moment." He "cited conversations with other players and influential people," such as 49ers consultant Dr. Harry Edwards, as "taking place in the time before taking action" (ESPN.com, 8/28). Kaepernick said that he did "not advise anyone he was going to protest the anthem, nor is he recruiting teammates to join." In San Jose, Cam Inman wrote Kaepernick's talk was the "most passionate and convincing tone of his six-year career" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 8/28). THE MMQB's Peter King writes Kaepernick was "eloquent, strident and not argumentative making some cogent points, while some of the beat people iPhoned video segments of the interview and sent it out on social media, virtually live" (MMQB.SI.com, 8/29). Read the full transcript of Kaepernick's press conference here.

TALK IT OUT: ESPN.com's Wagoner noted the 49ers yesterday "held a players-only meeting" with the goal to "give everyone a chance to speak and understand where Kaepernick is coming from." The meeting was "meant to ensure" that the team "would not fracture before the season even began." Wagoner noted it was "much needed because there was a segment of the locker room that not only didn't agree with what Kaepernick is doing, but didn't understand it." 49ers WR Torrey Smith: "I'm not more so focused on what he did; it's more about the message that he was trying to send. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend anyone." TE Bruce Miller said that the message "seemed to get across to most of the team, himself included." Miller: "We just have a better understanding of what he was feeling" (ESPN.com, 8/28). CSNBAYAREA.com's Matt Maiocco noted multiple players "described the meeting as productive and informative" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 8/28). ESPN's Tom Waddle said it is a "step in the right direction" that Kaepernick was "willing to sit and talk with his teammates and try to clear the air as much as possible" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 8/29). NFL Network's Steve Wyche said several players told him the "overarching theme coming out of that meeting was the team was more unified because they got to hear so many different sides of so many different stories." Wyche: "This is not some knee-jerk rebellion that he's thought about" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 8/28). 

STRONG WORDS: Vikings G Alex Boone, who played five seasons with Kaepernick with the 49ers, said, "You should have some f---ing respect for people who served, especially people that lost their life to protect our freedom." Lions WR Anquan Boldin said "you still have to respect" Kaepernick's opinion "even if you don't agree with what someone does." Giants WR Victor Cruz: "The flag is the flag" (ESPN.com, 8/28). Dolphins RB Arian Foster: "I understand 100 percent what he's doing. He's frustrated, just like me" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/29).

IN A TOUGH SPOT: Fox NFL analyst Jay Glazer said, "Regardless of politics or not, he has a very, very big uphill battle to make this team. I'd be shocked if he's on the 49ers by the time this season ends. It has nothing to do with political views whatsoever. ... He's regressing as a player" (FOXSPORTS.com, 8/28). ESPN NFL analyst Matt Hasselbeck "seemed to focus on how Kaepernick might have hurt his standing within the 49ers organization as he tries to win a starting job" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/27). ESPN's Kate Fagan said, "We don't know where Colin Kaepernick is right now on that production on-field level. ... It's going to be really tough for him" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN2, 8/28). The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami said there is "some integrity" in what Kaepernick did, in that he is "putting himself out there and maybe being penalized in the next few weeks or years or maybe the rest of his life" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/28). 

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