Former NFL star turned Black Lives Matter activist Colin Kaepernick applauded demonstrations in Minneapolis and other cities across the country where protesters took to the streets to demand justice for a black man killed by police in the city earlier this week.
“When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction,” Kaepernick said Thursday. “The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears, because your violence has brought this resistance.”
African Americans who are unfairly targeted by police “have the right to fight back,” Kaepernick said.
When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction.
The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears, because your violence has brought this resistance.
We have the right to fight back!
Rest in Power George Floyd
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) May 28, 2020
Massive protests erupted Wednesday night in Minneapolis as a result of the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who police arrested Monday on suspicion of using counterfeit bills. Multiple videos taken from the scene show Floyd never resisted arrest, yet a white officer is seen on one video kneeling on Floyd’s neck and pinning him to the ground.
Floyd repeatedly pleaded with the officer to get off him and warned them he could not breathe. All four of the officers who responded to Monday’s call have been fired by the city, and the mayor has asked local prosecutors to pursue murder charges against the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck.
Several Black Lives Matter activists and celebrities also commented on the riots, including rapper Cardi B, “They looting in Minnesota and as much as I don’t like this type of violence it is what it is. Too much peaceful marches, too much trending hashtags and NO SOLUTIONS! The people are left with NO CHOICE.”
Kaepernick explained his kneeling was a move to raise awareness for the mistreatment of brown and black people in America and said the flag does not represent him and other people of color.
Amid the chaos in Minneapolis on Wednesday night, several stores were looted, and protesters participated in flag burning ceremonies. At least one person was killed during the violence.
