‘I Want To Help Make America Better:’ Kaepernick Speaks On Protest As More Players Join Him

Football players are following 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his silent protest against racial injustice, minority oppression, police brutality and inequality by not standing for the national anthem.

Before the Sept. 1 game between the 49ers and San Diego Chargers, Kaepernick and teammate Eric Reid, a safety, dropped to one knee on their team’s sideline as “The Star-Spangled Banner” began to play and military members spread out an oversized flag on the football field as part of the military appreciation-themed game, The Associated Press reports.

“I just wanted to show my support for him,” Reid said. “He wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to the military or the national anthem, so he decided to change his position to be more respectful, but still bring awareness to the issues that he believes are going on in this country, and that I wholeheartedly believe exist in this country.”

In response, the players reportedly received scattered boos and angry shouts from those in attendance at the stadium.

“You’re an American. Act like one,” a sign in the crowd read.

On the same night in Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane stood in solidarity with Kaepernick by sitting on the bench during the national anthem.

“It’s something I plan to keep on doing until I feel like justice has been served,” Lane, who does not know Kaepernick personally, said. “No, I didn’t tell anyone I was going to do it. I just did it … I don’t mean no disrespect toward anybody, but I’m just standing behind what I believe.”

Kaepernick and Lane appear to feel the same way.

”I’m not anti-American,” Kaepernick said. “I love America. I love people. That’s why I’m doing this. I want to help make America better, and I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from.”

This is at least the second preseason game in which Kaepernick has refused to stand for the national anthem.

He said he plans to continue his protests during the regular season, and will donate $1 million “to different organizations to help these communities and help these people.”

He declined to offer any specifics on his donation statement.

“The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with,” Kaepernick said. “We have a lot of people that are oppressed. We have a lot of people that aren’t treated equally, that aren’t given equal opportunities. Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of issues that need to be talked about.”

Leo Uzcategui, a 20-year Navy veteran, does not support Kaepernick; he spewed profanity at him and obscene gestures following pregame warm ups.

“I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag,” Uzcategui said. “If he wants to do something, go to some outreach program where he can do some good. And I get it, his First Amendment right. But you don’t sit during the presenting of the colors, and you don’t sit during the national anthem. That is not the way to do it.”

There are those who do support Kaepernick’s protest, even if they do not find his method the best choice.

“I told him I appreciate what he is standing up for,” 23-year-old Domenique Banks, who had Kaepernick sign a jersey before the game, said. “He said he appreciated it. Most of the people I talk to say the same thing. I don’t like that he is sitting during the national anthem, but I appreciate what he is standing for.”

Military personnel have also gathered behind Kaepernick, posting to social media their support with the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick.

“Don’t use my service — or that of any veteran — to justify the silencing of black Americans,” Army veteran Charles Clymer tweeted on Aug. 30. “Not on my watch.”

“Because we’re actually not all self-centered racists,” former Marine Ed Beck said in a tweet the same day.

While Kaepernick may be refusing to stand during the national anthem, he did remain standing and applauded along with his teammates when a naval officer performed “God Bless America” before the fourth quarter of the Sept. 1 game, AP reports.

“I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put themselves in harm’s way for my freedom of speech, and my freedoms in this country, and my freedom to take a seat or take a knee,” Kaepernick said. “So I have the utmost respect for them, and I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way.”

Sources: The Associated Press, Ed Beck/Twitter, Charles Clymer/Twitter / Photo Credit: Conservative Republic