Colin Kaepernick Kneels During National Anthem

People

Colin Kaepernick

Outcome

unknown

On September 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, joined by teammate Eric Reid. The protest, which began weeks earlier when Kaepernick sat during the anthem, was a demonstration against police brutality and racial injustice in America. Kaepernick's action sparked a nationwide movement of athlete protests, intense public debate, and significant personal consequences for his career. Kaepernick had first sat during the anthem on August 14, 2016, but went unnoticed. On August 26, journalist Jennifer Lee Chan photographed him sitting during the anthem before the team's third preseason game, and the image spread on social media. When asked to explain, Kaepernick stated: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color." He had previously commented on social media about the police killings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Charles Kinsey, and Freddie Gray. The decision to transition from sitting to kneeling came after former Green Beret and NFL player Nate Boyer wrote an open letter in the Army Times on August 30, 2016. Boyer, who acknowledged his own anger at the protest but respected Kaepernick's right to it, met with Kaepernick and Reid on August 31 at a hotel in San Diego. During a 90-minute conversation, they arrived at the compromise of kneeling. As Boyer later explained: "Soldiers take a knee in front of a fallen brother's grave, you know, to show respect." The protest quickly spread across the NFL and other sports. By September 11, 2016, other players began kneeling or raising fists during the anthem. President Obama defended Kaepernick's "constitutional right to make a statement," while then-candidate Donald Trump suggested protesters should "try another country." The 49ers finished the 2016 season 2-14, and Kaepernick played his final NFL game on January 1, 2017. He opted out of his contract in March 2017 and was not signed by another team. In October 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against NFL owners, accusing them of colluding to keep him out of the league. In February 2019, Kaepernick and Reid reached a confidential settlement with the NFL, reportedly less than $10 million. Despite being effectively blacklisted from the NFL, Kaepernick continued his activism. In October 2016, he founded Know Your Rights Camp with his partner Nessa, inspired by the December 2015 police killing of Mario Woods in San Francisco. The organization educates Black youth ages 12-18 about their legal rights when encountering police. In September 2018, Nike featured Kaepernick in an advertising campaign with the slogan: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Kaepernick has received numerous honors for his activism, including Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award (2017), GQ's Citizen of the Year (2017), the ACLU Roscoe Pound Award (2017), and Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award (2018). The photograph of Kaepernick and Reid kneeling on September 1, 2016, is now preserved in the collection of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.