Athletes Across The US Will Not Be Intimidated – Join Kaepernick’s Silent Protest (VIDEO)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during the US national anthem resulted in backlash and national dialogue. Kaepernick is protesting racial injustice experienced by African Americans in the United States.

It’s also inspiring athletes to join him.

In Camden, NJ, all but two members of the Woodrow Wilson Tigers football team knelt during the national anthem before Saturday’s game. Their coach, Preston Brown, told the team of his decision to kneel on Friday. All but two players joined in. Brown, who teaches at Woodrow Wilson High School and lives in Camden, told NJ.com:

“I grew up in poverty, a lot of these kids are growing up in poverty. There’s a lot of social injustices and economic disparities. There’s issues right here in our own community.”

In Camden, poverty, violence, and racial inequity is impossible to ignore. The students at Woodrow Wilson High School are overwhelmingly African American and Hispanic. The small city is struggling to deal with persistent violent crime.

The Camden students were not alone in their protest. A USA Today report listed six other high school games in which athletes knelt during the anthem. Most of these were in the Midwest and Upper Midwest but some were in Maryland and Virginia.

The peaceful act of kneeling during the national anthem has resulted in backlash for some pro athletes.

  • Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall lost an endorsement as a direct result.
  • Megan Rapinoe, who plays soccer for the Washington Spirit, knelt during the anthem. Her coach Bill Lynch responded at the next game by simply playing the anthem before the team came out, issuing a blistering press release to explain.
  • Team USA World Cup hockey players have to contend with their coach John Tortorella’s threat to bench them for the entire game if they follow Colin Kaepernick’s lead.

The entire Seattle Seahawks team plans a powerful show of unity at their season opener this Sunday, September 11. They will interlock their arms during the national anthem. The team decided on the action after their cornerback knelt during the anthem at a preseason game.

Such a simple thing is bringing a loud voice to a problem that needs to be addressed.

Featured image from YouTube video.