MADELINE HUBBARD ‘19
SPORTS EDITOR
Last year, Colin Kaepernick started a movement by taking a knee during the national anthem. When asked why he didn’t stand for the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Kaepernick replied, “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 was referring to the uptick in police brutality and murders against people of color. According to The Washington Post’s statistics for 2016, black men are three times more likely to be murdered by police than white men when population rates are held constant.
Kaepernick, a quarterback, opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers and is not currently signed to another team for the season. Many believe Kaepernick is being punished for his protests.
If the NFL attempted to use Kaepernick as an example to stamp out any political protests, it seems they have failed and, in fact, caused just the opposite. His actions have created a ripple effect of protests against racial injustices both on and off the field.
Many players have spoken out in support of Kaepernick, including Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers said, “I think he should be on a roster right now,” and its “ignorant” to assume that the NFL not signing Kaepernick is based on his performance as a quarterback. That’s not where the backlash stopped.
According to The New York Times, there was a large protest outside of the NFL’s New York headquarters protesting Kaepernick’s current unemployment and “lack of racial sensitivity.” Rev. Jamal Bryant was quoted calling out the NFL for being “more comfortable with concussions than someone having a conscience.”
In conjunction with this protest, there was another gathering across the street in support of the police as a rebuttal to the cries against the NFL. The Cleveland Browns are facing similar backlash now from the Police Union.
In August, a small fraction of players knelt in a circle during the anthem. Now, President of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, Steve Loomis issued a statement naming the protest, “ignorant” and “as offensive as it can get.” Loomis also stated that the union members would not hold the flag for the Browns first in-season game.
Loomis also criticized the Browns management for allowing their players to protest, as the players had told their coach Hue Jackson ahead of time because they “felt it was respectful to let him know what was going on, what the players were going to do before the game,” Linebacker Christian Kirksey said.
According to Rolling Stone Magazine, the Browns management’s response to the player protests continues to be “that they respect their players’ right to ‘project their support and bring awareness to issues that are important to them.’”
Many who find the protests disrespectful are calling for the NFL to put an end to the protests and promote patriotism, as they have traditionally been loud supporters of the military and police.
Only time will tell how the NFL will react to the backlash from the protests, but in the meantime, Kaepernick seems to be paying the price for his protests and the players on the Browns could be soon to follow.
