We are truly living in an upside-down world right now. Beyonce used the Super Bowl 2016 halftime show to promote violent, racial hate group, The New Black Panthers. More recently, the NFL made a decision to disallow the Dallas Cowboys to to wear the “Arm-in-Arm” decal on their helmets to honor the police officers slain in their hometown at the hands of a Black Lives Matter supporter and former member of the New Black Panthers. But when Cleveland Browns NFL player, Isaiah  Crowell posts an image of an ISIS type execution of a police officer on social media in July, the NFL didn’t make a peep to express their disapproval…

crowell

And now we have a player who openly refuses to honor our flag because of the Obama-Sharpton-Holder inspiredBlack Lives Matter movement.

Hours after Pro Football Talk took note of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sitting during the national anthem before Friday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, the QB spoke out and explained it was a protest.

Here’s what he told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche:

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. 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.”

The Niners also issued a statement on Kaepernick’s decision — it’s also worth noting this wasn’t the first time this preseason that he’s sat:

“The National Anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.”

Kaepernick joins other big-name athletes including NBA stars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade — whose cousin was shot and killed in Chicago on Friday — who have used their platforms to press for social change. The QB has used his Twitter feed to retweet stories and posts about issues of race and social injustice.

“This is not something that I am going to run by anybody,” Kaepernick added to Wyche. “I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.”

Via: USA Today Sports

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