Colin Kaepernick Kneels for Equality

Some NFL players have made headlines but not for their plays on the field. They have been kneeling during the national anthem.

The player spearheading this movement is San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick; he began his protest alone and voiced his opinions about police brutality and the unfair treatment of the African-American community in the United States. In a interview after an August 27th  preseason game, Colin had this to say about why he sat during the anthem, “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.”

As his protest began to gain ground and more media attention, more players, people, other athletes, and politicians stood behind Colin and voiced their support and joined in the protest. The NFL’s  head commissioner Roger Goodell had this to say about the issue,  “I support our players when they want to see change in society, and we don’t live in a perfect society…”

What Kaepernick is doing, not only is making waves in football but also in other sports. Like US Women’s soccer team player Megan Rapinoe  knelt during the anthem during a NWSL game against the Chicago Red Stars; she claimed that she was kneeling not only for the unfair treatment of the African- American community but also the LGBT community as well.

Kaepernick does not plan to stop anytime soon, but he has said that he doesn’t want to kneel forever.

Kaepernick has recently come out and said that every dollar he earns from jersey sales for the rest of the season  he will donate to a charity that is fighting for the equal rights of minorities in the United States. Colin Kaepernick has created  a movement, not only in the NFL, but in the United States and the World.

By voicing his opinion, Colin has made it possible for other athletes to come out and stand up against issues in our world today.