Colin Kaernick's Refusal To Stand

Taking a Stand By Refusing to Stand: Colin Kaepernick’s Use of the Political Gesture in the World of Sports Athletes are given a public platform and some, despite the criticism they are sure to receive from members of the public, use it to make an important statement or to bring awareness to an issue they feel strongly about. In 1968, African American track athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos staged a protest during the Olympics in Mexico City, and in 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick protested by refusing to stand during the national anthem. There’s this idea that athletes should stick to playing sports and keep away from making any political statements lest they ruin the game, but it is through the controversy that …show more content…
Kaepernick, during an interview, explains the reason for staging his protest: “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.” By partaking in this silent protest, he faced plenty of criticism from football fans and players and coaches. He has been deemed “un-American,” being told that it is disrespectful to the flag and its veterans, and therefore a sign he hates his country. However, Kaepernick’s simple gesture has brought the issues of police brutality and racial injustice into the spotlight once more, as he presumably set out to do, and despite the backlash, plenty of others have shown their support. Kaepernick’s right to not participate during the national anthem has been defended by fellow football players, such as Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster, and 49ers coach Chip Kelly. Other athletes decided to stand with Kaepernick and showed their support by kneeling during the anthem or making demonstrations of their