Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson kneeled when the national anthem played at the start of their game against the Tennessee Titans, becoming the first players to do so on the field during the 2018 to 2019 season.
He added, ” ‘Love is at the root of our resistance!’ ” with the clenched fist emoji.
President Donald Trump, one of the most vocal critics of Kaepernick’s stance, also addressed Sunday’s game, suggesting in a tweet that far fewer people are watching the NFL because of kneeling players. “If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!” he wrote.
Last week, Kaepernick was revealed as anew face of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign: a black and white closeup of his face with the superimposed words, “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” Two days later,a full commercial with Kaepernick was released.
Many — including fellow athletes like tennis championSerena Williamsand NBA starLeBron James, who are both part of the campaign — have praised Nike, while others have responded with fury, threatening to boycott the sportswear titan.
Kaepernick started the international protest in August 2016, when the then-28-year-old football starremained seated during the national anthemat the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. A few weeks later he opted to take a knee instead to clarify that he wasn’t protesting the U.S. military.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country thatoppresses black peopleand people of color,”Kaepernick told Steve Wyche of NFL Media about the move afterwards.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” he continued. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder… I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. If they take football away, my endorsements from me — I know that I stood up for what is right.”
In May 2018, NFL ownersapproved rulesthat force players to stand on the sideline or remain in the locker room during the anthem and fine those who do not comply. But according totheWashington Post, the policy is on hold because of disagreements between the league and the NFL Players Association, andESPN reported on Sundaythat nothing will be enacted this season.
source: people.com
