Colin Kaepernick Kneels in Protest

2016

Kaepernick kneeled to call attention to racial oppression and police brutality.

In 2016, San Francisco 49ers players Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid protested racial oppression and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem. Some viewers saw their actions as peaceful protesting, while others believed it showed a lack of patriotism. A backlash against the protests included calls to boycott brands and teams that supported kneeling players.