Ten years after former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first knelt during the national anthem, his act of conscience continues to reverberate throughout American sports. While the protest began as a personal stand against oppression of Black and brown Americans, it ignited a broader movement that has seen athletes from the WNBA, MLB, NHL and soccer use their platforms to call for justice.
From a quiet protest to a national conversation
Kaepernick first remained seated during the anthem on August 14, 2016, before a preseason game against the Houston Texans. He repeated the gesture the following week against the Denver Broncos, but it was his decision to kneel on August 26 against the Green Bay Packers that captured the nation’s attention. When asked why he acted, Kaepernick said he could not “stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color.” He added that the protest was “bigger than football” and that ignoring the issue would be selfish.
The protest came at a time of heightened racial tension. In July 2016, the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile sparked nationwide outrage and prompted public officials, including Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, to question whether race played a role in the incidents. Kaepernick publicly described Sterling’s death as a modern‑day “lynching” and called the subsequent killings “clear as day” evidence that African Americans were “under attack.”
Backlash and support
The response was swift and polarized. Kaepernick faced boos, death threats, and harsh criticism from then‑Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who called the protest a “terrible thing” and suggested Kaepernick should “find a country that works better for him.” Despite the backlash, Kaepernick’s resolve did not waver, and his protest became a catalyst for other athletes.
In the 2017 WNBA Finals, the Los Angeles Sparks stayed in the locker room during the anthem while the Minnesota Lynx linked arms on the court, a gesture of solidarity that player Diana Taurasi described as standing “strong on social unrest.” The movement spread to baseball (Bruce Maxwell), hockey (J.T. Brown), women’s soccer (Megan Rapinoe), and the NBA, where several teams locked arms during the anthem throughout the 2016‑17 season.
Impact on sport and society
Although Kaepernick’s protest effectively ended his NFL career—no team signed him after he became a free agent in 2017—his legacy endures. The image of Kaepernick kneeling beside teammate Eric Reid remains one of the defining symbols of 2010s sports culture. It forced fans and athletes alike to grapple with questions of patriotism, moral conscience, and the role of faith and family values in public life.
Subsequent events, such as the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, amplified the athlete activism Kaepernick helped ignite. Across the country, players have continued to use their visibility to demand accountability for police brutality and systemic racism, echoing Kaepernick’s original call for moral reflection.
Continuing the conversation
While the protest sparked intense debate, it also highlighted the importance of protecting individual liberty and the constitutional right to peaceful expression. For many families, the discussion underscores the need for parental guidance and faith‑based values when confronting complex societal issues.
As the nation reflects on a decade of athlete activism, Kaepernick’s stance serves as a reminder that sports can be a powerful arena for moral leadership, encouraging citizens to consider how their convictions align with the principles of liberty and justice for all.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
