Colin Kaepernick has been speaking out about the injustice black people are facing in America. In July he posted a video of the death of Alton Sterling, a black man who was pinned to the ground by two police officers and then shot at point blank range. Kaepernick's Instagram post said Sterling's death is what "lynchings look like in 2016." Sterling's death is one of many black men who have recently died in police-involved shootings.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback decided to take a stand, or rather a seat, refusing to stand during the national anthem during a game against the Packers on Friday evening. He also sat down during the team's first two preseason games. He explained his decision by saying:
"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."
Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the anthem has angered many people. Some are accusing him of being unpatriotic, disrespecting the military, and a hypocrite because he's wealthy and famous. Some people have even told him to leave America.
One 49ers fan decided to burn Kaepernick's jersey while the national anthem plays.
Source: complex.com
