Nearly a week after Colin Kaepernick explained his protest of the national anthem, he’s now taking the next step in his cause. After the 49ers’ final preseason game against the Chargers Thursday, Kaepernick announced that he would be donating $1 million of his salary to various organizations that focus on helping their communities.
#49ers QB Colin Kaepernick said he will donate $1 million to two different organizations to help promote awareness pic.twitter.com/LptGEFehQD
— Ryan Sakamoto (@SakamotoRyan) September 2, 2016
"Yes, I am planning to take it a step further. I’m currently working with organizations to be involved, and making sure I’m actively in these communities, as well as donating the first million dollars I make this year to different organizations to help these communities and help these people."
Kaepernick also had the chance to address the media about his protest and the reaction to it, especially when it concerned the military, something that Drew Brees was concerned about. "Well, I think it’s a misunderstanding," Kaepernick said. "You know, the media painted this as ‘I’m anti-American,’ ‘anti-men and women of the military, and that’s not the case at all." A number of U.S. military members have gone on social media to publicly support Kaepernick and dispel the notion that he’s disrespecting them.
Meanwhile, other players have joined him in his protest, such as Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane and Kaepernick’s teammate Eric Reid. It remains to be seen how Kaepernick’s cause will take shape as the season goes along — who else in the NFL will join him or disagree with him, and how will his activism affect the communities he wants to help. But one thing’s for sure: He’s getting people to pay attention, to look inward, to talk about racism.
* * *