In 2016, the Black Lives Matter movement continued to protest and fight for equal rights. Over time, they have become more unpopular for blocking off highways and interrupting presidential speeches. This has led to some black protests without directly mentioning the movement. This essay will examine Colin Kaepernick’s protests during the national anthem and the responses received as well as the impact his actions have had across the country.
Colin Kaepernick is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He began the 2016 preseason by sitting down during the national anthem. For the first two games, he mostly went unnoticed. It was the third game that people started notice. “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 explained. “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.” For the remainder of the season, Kapernick continued to protest during the national anthem. He later switched from sitting to kneeling out of respect for veterans and those serving in the military.
Many of the reactions Kaepernick …show more content…
One of the largest reasons for his protests, and the Black Lives Matter movement, is police brutality against blacks. There have been some police shootings against unarmed blacks that have gathered a lot of attention and inspired their own protests, and even more protests when the officer involved is (typically) put on paid administrative leave without any further repercussions. These actions have led to distrust towards police nationwide, which could possibly make the problem even worse. Some opponents argue the violence blacks face from police is due to the high rate of black-on-black violence. However, this could be due to the high poverty and incarceration rates of black