ICYMI: When Colin Kaepernick shocked the NFL world with protests and kneeling movement
Colin Kaepernick remains out of the NFL, but he spawned a movement that has now become the definitive stance to protest against systemic racism. Players across the world, in sports as varied as cricket and soccer, take a knee to protest against discrimination based on the color of their skin. But it was not always thus, and when the protests began, Colin Kaepernick was definitely in the minority. Here is a quick look back at what happened.
Colin Kaepernick protests police brutality; births a movement
August 26, 2016. That was the day that Colin Kaepernick sat out the national anthem while wearing his uniform while playing for the San Francisco 49ers against the Green Bay Packers in a preseason game. He had sat out a couple of other preseason games as well, but because he was not in uniform, his simple act of not standing for the national anthem went unnoticed.
49ers QB Colin Kaepernick did not stand for national anthem against the Green Bay Packers Friday night. on.wjtv.com/2bPIv3h
When asked why he did not stand for the national anthem, he said,
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. 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.”
He was referring to the police killings of people of color like Alton Sterling, Philando Castille, Charles Kinsey and Freddy Gray, on which he had commented on social media, too. What he did with this simple act and explanation was open a can of worms where people had to reckon with America's racial frontlines.
For some, especially those who have served in the US military, disrespecting the national anthem is a sacrilege. Green beret Nate Boyer, then of the Seattle Seahawks, conveyed the same to Colin Kaepernick in an open letter and suggested taking a knee would be less disrespectful while continuing to bring attention to the matter of police brutality against people of color.
@etoccidentalis @gordon_struth @DominantDomest1 @FA @England Aug 30 2016 Former player & Green Beret Nate Boyer writes a letter to Kaepernick from the perspective of a supportive military member. The 2 meet & Boyer talks Kaepernick into changing his method of protest from sitting to kneeling during the national anthem out of respect https://t.co/pQVSVsUsLT
Boyer and Kaepernick met on August 30, 2016 and on September 1, 2016. Colin Kaepernick took a knee for the first time with Boyer standing next to him in a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. He continued doing that throughout the regular season as well.
While he was still panned for his stance, including by then-President Donald Trump, a sea change in attitudes occurred after George Floyd was murdered by a police officer who kneeled on his neck. It became a symbol then -- taking a knee in peace to protest rather than taking a knee to kill someone. Today, a simple act by Colin Kaepernick has brought attention to instances of police brutality against people of color. It was a simple act, but profound in its implications.