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President Obama speaks on Colin Kaepernick’s protest

By Andre Pruitt

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) gestures during a press conference following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) gestures during a press conference following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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President Obama speaks on Colin Kaepernick’s protest while on a trip in China.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been taking a stand, or lack thereof if you will, this NFL preseason,. Kaepernick has made headlines in recent weeks for sitting while the National Anthem played before his games. The reason he sat, he said, was to take a stand for minorities who face systemic oppression in our country.

As most know by now Kaepernick’s stance has received some praise, but a lot of criticism as well. He took the protest a step further during last week’s preseason game, continuing it but deciding to kneel during the anthem instead of completely sitting after talking with someone from the military. It’s a way for Kaepernick to make his stance, while being less disrespectful.

As reported by CNN (h/t SBNation), President Obama recently spoke on Kaepernick’s protest while on a trip in China. President Obama stated, “My understanding at least is that he’s exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there’s a long history of sports figures doing so. I think there are a lot of ways you can do it, as a general matter, when it comes to the flag and the national anthem and the meaning that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who fought for us. I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about and, if nothing else, what he’s done is that he’s generated some more discussion around topics that need to be talked about.”

President Obama seems to understand the reasoning behind Kaepernick’s stance. Pointing out the long list of sports figures who have taken stands such as Kaepernick. The president understands the issues that need to be addressed, while others seem to be missing the point and focusing on Kaepernick’s perceived disrespect of America.

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With so much controversy surrounding Kaepernick, some thought that the 49ers brass would just decide to cut the quarterback past his prime, though that was not his case. He made the team albeit in a backup role to Blaine Gabbert.