Police Union: Officers May Boycott 49ers over Kaepernick

The union for the police force that patrols San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium threatened to not work home games over Colin Kaepernick’s continued protest of the national anthem, according to a published report.

The 28-year-old says he will continue his polarising protest until he sees improvements in race relations.

CSN Bay Area obtained a letter sent by the Santa Clara police union to the 49ers saying that if the team doesn’t take action against its quarterback “it could result in police officers choosing not to work at your facilities”.

Santa Clara police say Kaepernick’s actions and statements are “inflammatory and insulting” and the 49ers should put a stop to his campaign.

The letter also said “the board of directors of the Santa Clara Police Officers’ Association has a duty to protect its members and work to make all of their working environments free of harassing behavior”.

The police union said that cops are also upset over Kaepernick’s socks that have cartoon pigs wearing police hats, and his statements about cops “murdering minorities”.

It’s the latest in the flurry of heated responses – both negative and positive – that Kaepernick has gotten since his silent protest became the talk of the National Football League and much of the nation last week.

As for the misunderstanding Kaepernick is referring to, on Friday, Aug. 26, the star athlete made a controversial decision to take a stand against oppression, by remaining seated during the national anthem prior to his game against the Green Bay Packers, in Santa Clara, California. “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 said in an interview with NFL Media after the August 26 game. Instead, he plans to donate $1 million throughout the year to community groups affected by racial inequality and police brutality. Veterans and military members tweeted their support for Kaepernick in recent days under the hashtag “VeteransForKaepernick”.

The team has chosen not to discipline Kaepernick for choosing to sit during “The Star Spangled Banner, citing the principles of “freedom of religion and freedom of expression”.