Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick encouraged players participating in protests during the national anthem to “continue to fight” just weeks before the start of the NFL season.
“My Brothers @E_Reid35 @KSTiLLS @iThinkIsee12 [Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Albert Wilson] continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats,” Kaepernick said Sunday on Twitter. “They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action. Stay strong Brothers!!!”
My Brothers @E_Reid35 @KSTiLLS @iThinkIsee12 continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats. They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action. Stay strong Brothers!!! ✊? pic.twitter.com/OQClsZXD5V
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 18, 2019
The message from Kaepernick comes just days after the NFL announced a partnership with rapper Jay-Z, which includes a social justice initiative. Jay-Z said at the press conference that the country had “moved passed kneeling.”
Kaepernick’s allies, including his girlfriend Nessa, accused the rapper of selling out.
Reid, who was Kaepernick’s first teammate to kneel in the 2016 season, called Jay-Z “despicable” for signing the deal with the NFL.
Kaepernick’s allies contend the NFL cannot truly move on with social justice issues until the quarterback is given another opportunity to play in the league. The former San Francisco quarterback has not played a game in the NFL since 2016.
The 31-year-old ignited controversy earlier this summer when he convinced Nike to stop selling shoes that featured the Betsy Ross American flag. Kaepernick reportedly told the company the use of the symbol was offensive because it was the American colonial flag when slavery was still legal.
