Colin Kaepernick “National Anthem Protest”
Why He Chose Not To Stand In Silence.
San Francisco 49's quarterback Colin Kaepernick has willingly placed himself in the middle of controversy by refusing to stand during the national anthem in protest of what he sees as injustice for black people and minorities in America. Though he has a string of supporters and even other athletes and celebrities joining his protest, with encouragement also comes backlash. Kaepernick has made a statement defending his actions and further explaining why he chooses this particular way to protest.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "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."
Kaepernick's protest is in response to the recent (but not so new) police brutality and slayings of people of color. Let’s talk numbers: in the year 2016 alone, police in America have killed about 780 citizens. Since Kaepernick took a knee merely one month ago, 15 blacks have been killed by police. One month is 30 days, therefore according to this data, a black person is murdered by cops nearly every other day. In the years 2015 and 2016 so far, cops have killed 458 black citizens. Disturbingly, that number is only reflective of how it is today. Another disturbing number? Well, according to The Guardian’s data and research, black males between the ages 15 and 34 are nine times more likely to be killed by police than any other demographic, with this group accounting for 15% of the police brutality deaths in 2016 already. Fifteen percent doesn’t necessarily sound like a big number, but the shocking part is this group only accounts for TWO percent of the American population.So even though it's okay to not agree with Kaepernick's particular way of protesting, one has to admire the passion he has for his people and how far he's willing to go to see a positive change in this country.
The largest outcry being heard about the quarterback's protest is that he has no respect for his country, or the many soldiers and uniformed police officers who willingly put their lives in danger to protect us and what we call our home. Many feel the National Anthem is the way we pay our respects to not only the living heroes, but the ones who have fallen in the line of duty, not to mention the veterans who have been setting the standards for decades. Kaepernick insists that his actions aren't out of disrespect.
"I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country," said Kaepernick, "I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country. And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone. That’s not happening.”
If anything, he feels that what our soldiers are fighting for isn't truly a “free” country and many soldiers have stood behind him on that.
To conclude, I will say being a biracial woman in this country I can speak for my people and confirm most of us do not feel safe in this country. When we get pulled over by the police, our hearts pound a little faster. We don't trust our children to walk down the street while doing something as harmless as wearing a hoodie safely anymore. Sadly, we have to coach our youth in order for their name to not become a hashtag. We have to tell our children and loved ones to keep their mouth closed and take whatever is thrown at them, even if the superior is WRONG, just to have a better chance to make it back home. Even then, it has been shown with recent events that that doesn’t even work. Sandra Bland made it all the way to the jail cell and was murdered; Alton Sterling was laying on the ground with his hands behind his back when he was murdered by police gunfire. Therefore, Kaepernick feels like we have to live like refugees just to survive in our own country. The judicial system is rigged against blacks and other races so much that white people are getting away with killing our families. They only continue to do so because they know that this star-spangled country was created to preserve their superiority, privilege, and supremacy. Colin Kaepernick wants to see that the United States is worthy of the National Anthem. From where I'm standing, he only wants peace and justice for everyone and until progress is made he's made it clear he will not stand.
