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Colin Kaepernick: Santa Clara Police Union Threatens To Boycott 49ers Games, But Chief Vows Safety [Video]

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 11:48 PST, Sep 4, 2016

San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick’s name has been on a lot of lips and typed out on a lot of keyboards in the last couple of weeks. Ever since Colin Kaepernick got involved in politics and social justice by refusing to stand for the national anthem when it’s played at 49ers games, he has become the subject of public ridicule, scorn, hate, respect, and pride.

So, why did Colin Kaepernick decide that sitting out “The Star Spangled Banner” was a socially conscious move? According to the footballer, he can’t support the national anthem of a country that allows its police to murder with impunity. Getting behind the Black Lives Matter movement, Colin Kaepernick is sitting out the national anthem to protest police brutality against African-Americans and other people of color. That’s because Americans of color are far more likely to be victims of excessive police violence and even killed by police than their white counterparts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfxbYcderTY

According to Colin Kaepernick, he simply can’t honor a nation that doesn’t treat its citizens better and doesn’t hold its police officers to a higher standard than the U.S. currently does. Here’s the reason behind Colin Kaepernick’s public (and very controversial) protest, in his own words.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. 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.”

In addition to refusing to stand for “The Star Spangled Banner,” Colin Kaepernick has taken his protest to the next level by reportedly showing up for practice wearing socks complete with pictures of pigs dressed as cops.

Apparently, the Santa Clara Police Department has had enough of the “disrespectful” Colin Kaepernick protest. Or, at least the Santa Clara Police union has. At the end of last week, the union sent an angry, somewhat threatening letter to the 49ers’ management, and the subject was the Colin Kaepernick protest.

Reportedly, the local police union told the football team that if they didn’t do “something” about Colin Kaepernick and his continued protest against police, the Santa Clara PD would no longer be working security at the team’s stadium. In all, the department sends about 70 officers to help with security at the stadium for all of about eight home games every season. Because 49er Colin Kaepernick doesn’t like it when cops use excessive force, and because he has opted to publicly express his displeasure regarding police brutality, the local police union says that they are going to boycott working 49ers games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4RCLTVv6IA

According to the Santa Clara Police union, the organization has a duty to protect its employees from harassment. Apparently, harassment includes a person who doesn’t choose to stand for the national anthem in accordance with their Constitutionally protected First Amendment rights, like Colin Kaepernick.

“The board of directors of the Santa Clara Police Officer’s Association has a duty to protect its members and work to make all of their workings environments free of harassing behavior.”

While the local police union came out with some pretty strong words of criticism toward the Colin Kaepernick, even going so far as to threaten a boycott of the 49ers, Santa Clara police chief Michael Sellers has a different take on an appropriate response to Colin Kaepernick’s silent, non-violent protest.

While still calling the protest of Colin Kaepernick “distasteful” and “hurtful,” the police chief issued a statement Saturday in which he vowed to do everything in his power to ensure that police do their jobs (even when they disagree with the opinions of a citizen) and to ensure that the 49ers’ home games remain safe for the players and the public.

“As distasteful as his actions are, these actions are protected by the Constitution. Police officers are here to protect the rights of every person, even if we disagree with their position.”

The public response to the Colin Kaepernick protest has been divided, with many people calling his refusal to stand for the national anthem “unpatriotic” and “disrespectful,” as well as some far less appropriate words. Others believe that what Colin Kaepernick is doing is brave and appropriate and Constitutionally protected and an excellent alternative to a violent, destructive protest against police brutality — something that has become increasingly common in the U.S. as citizens continue to lose their tolerance for excessive use of force by law enforcement.

Colin Kaepernick has even gotten some support from a very unlikely community, given the nature of his protest (i.e., refusing to stand for the national anthem). Since his protest against police brutality began, #VeteransForKaepernick has exploded on social media.

Despite the highly controversial nature of his protest, Kaepernick has also enjoyed the unwavering support of the San Francisco 49ers organization and the NFL.

“In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.”

What do you think? Should the police boycott 49ers games? Should the police chief keep his words and ensure that Santa Clara officers do their jobs, even if they disagree with a citizen’s political and social views? Is Colin Kaepernick right, or has he taken his protest too far?

[Photo by Harry How/Getty Images]

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