Kaepernick’s protest reaches outside sports

The fact that somebody would consider killing Colin Kaepernick because of his silent protest goes to show just how far we have to go in addressing these issues. Kaepernick has decried police departments putting their officers on paid leave after similar incidents.

“In generating the national discussion at a more intense level, I think Kaepernick has done this entire nation a tremendous service, ” Edwards said. “And they should be in prison for that”.

Kaepernick said he’s received death threats since the protest began in August. President Obama defendant Kaepernick’s decision to silently protest the national anthem saying, “he’s exercising his constitutional right”. He was heckled Sunday in Carolina. With this said, the discussion he has created surrounding the treatment of minorities is an important dialogue that is crucial in creating a more inclusive society, both here in Madison and throughout the entire country. “I don’t know why that is or what they’re scared of, but it needs to be addressed”.

Kaepernick said he recently had a brief conversation with New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long, who spoke out last week in an ESPN radio interview in support of Kaepernick and the movement.

“I just wanted to show support for someone who I think is finally stepped out of what we want athletes to do”, Clark said, according to Sports Business Daily. However, as Marquette students, tasked with the daily duties of learning and opening our minds to new ideas, we also have the responsibility to thoughtfully examine the goal of Kaepernick’s demonstration.

Kaepernick and these other players’ demonstration invokes thought: What does this anthem stand for?

Things will only change when the Dilfers, Uptons, and America’s “basket of deplorables” feel as sickened by the state-funded murder of Americans who don’t look like them as they are by football players not standing for the national anthem. If we are quick to label Kaepernick unpatriotic or disrespectful, we waste our chance as American citizens with equal rights to speech and as intelligent, educated university students to make real, positive change in our nation.

He also has pledged to donate all earnings he receives from his jersey sales, which have been brisk since his protest became public.