Real Progressives’ Trending on Twitter hashtag of the day is #ColinKaepernick #Respect. There has been a media firestorm because he chose to not stand during the national anthem because of institutionalized racism (a view Real Progressives supports). He comments about that in this article:
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. “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.”
Looking at his timeline, you can see that this isn’t the first time he has spoken about this issue:
"I have the people behind me and the people are my strength."
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) February 17, 2016
“I suggested [in 1966] that we… https://t.co/eG9GO4fcAL
After four weeks of testimony and over 70 witnesses in a civil trial in Memphis, Tennessee,… https://t.co/Tw2vgb4cju
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 19, 2016
We are under attack! It's clear as day! Less than 24 hrs later another body in the street! https://t.co/2wlxtVkwmv
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 7, 2016
Freddie Gray suffered a severe spinal cord injury, while in police custody, and the medical… https://t.co/9Uhr4WsVfM
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 28, 2016
What a lot of people don’t know is that the lyrics behind the national anthem after the first verse that we know are tinged with racially-charged words. Here is the third verse of the Star Spangled Banner (with the offensive wording in bold):
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Based on his stance, a number of people have tweeted and retweeted negative comments about him and his stance:
HEY COLIN!!! This guy stands. #ColinKaepernick #Respect #SanFrancisco #49ers #StandForTheAnthem @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/MBBlEYeIiu
— NEWSRADIO WSPD (@1370wspd) August 29, 2016
49 fan responds to #ColinKaepernick #Respecthttps://t.co/pRiA9MGcEe
— Bill Wills (@billwillswtam) August 29, 2016
Incase anyone was wondering how I feel about #ColinKaepernick #ColinKaeperDICK #49ers #USA #USMC #Respect pic.twitter.com/wgI8tRx0M1
— Livvy Grace (@LivvyGrin) August 29, 2016
Other people who support him have come to Twitter to show that he is not alone:
Statement from the PSL Presidential Campaign: "We salute #ColinKaepernick!" https://t.co/PXDXcNxK31 #Respect #Fidel #MalcolmX
— Party for Socialism and Liberation (@pslweb) August 29, 2016
Why #ColinKaepernick Refused To Stand For The National Anthem. #Respect @Kaepernick7 #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/JfF6lJ8qZs
— Les (@LesHugTX) August 28, 2016
I Thank You! #ColinKaepernick @Kaepernick7 #Respect! https://t.co/R8fPGMWLBV
— Aframerica (@Aframerica) August 27, 2016
Please like, comment, and share this article as well as keep this hashtag, #ColinKaepernick #Respect trending on social media.