With millions of viewers tuning in to watch professional sports, it’s no surprise that athletes are heavily scrutinized, and often have their every move criticized. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is no stranger to controversy. But this time around, the 28-year-old is being unfairly criticized for standing up for what he believes in.
According to ESPN, Kaepernick has taken a lot of heat from critics after choosing to stay seated during the national anthem at an NFL preseason game. Kaepernick refused to stand for the customary playing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” as a way to silently and peacefully protest the treatment of racial minorities in the United States, Yahoo Sports reports. However, this protest was not a one-time thing, as many critics hoped it would be.
Kaepernick continued what is being called his “preseason protest,” at the 49er’s Sept. 1 game against the San Diego Chargers, but this time with a supporter at his side. 49er’s safety Eric Reid joined his teammate in solidarity and kneeled throughout the duration of the pre-game national anthem, according to CBS. But support for Kaepernick’s silent protest doesn’t stop with his team. Female soccer star Megan Rapinoe joined in the silent protest by kneeling during the national anthem before the Seattle Reign game in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Unsurprisingly, Kaepernick has recently received a substantial amount of backlash for his commentary on social justice issues. Many have said that Kaepernick is disrespecting the United States by refusing to stand. However, that’s not the case at all. Kaepernick is not being disrespectful in the slightest; his form of silent and peaceful protest is one of the most respectful ways to make a statement. He is not attacking anyone or slandering the name of the United States, he is simply suggesting that he does not agree with the way racial issues are currently being handled. Kaepernick is exercising a basic constitutional right by attempting to bring about change in a non-confrontational manner.
The treatment of racial minorities within society has been a major issue lately, and support and protest groups, such as Black Lives Matter, have been coming together in order to address this treatment. Much like these groups, Kaepernick is offering his opinion on the situation and has chosen not to participate in the tradition of honoring a nation he believes is treating a minority group unfairly.
Denying Kaepernick this form of protest is denying one of his most basic rights as an American. Though it is customary to stand for the national anthem, there is no requirement to do so, and the NFL even issued a statement regarding Kaepernick’s decision to remain seated: “Players are encouraged, but not required, to stand during the playing of the national anthem.”
Athletes will always be the subject of scrutiny from fans, but sometimes those criticisms are unfounded. As a high profile athlete, Kaepernick has a large fan base and gains more and more exposure with every nationally televised game, and it’s admirable that he uses his fame to bring light to a relevant social issue. So despite all of his new-found haters, Kaepernick should keep standing up for what he believes in and fight for racial equality one touchdown at a time.
