By Jordan Mcglory, Courier Staff Writer
Black Lives Matter. It’s been preached by the African-American community and many others for quite a long time, and now it’s finally time for people take a stand.
One person who has recently made a stand, and a tremendous impact is the San Francisco 49er’s quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Some people don’t like his approach, however, some follow in his footsteps since they feel the same way.
Colin Kaepernick started kneeling for the national anthem about a month ago, during the 49ers and Green Bay Packers game on August 26th. From there onward, other players have been following Kaepernick’s steps. A few players have decided to put their hands over their hearts, kneel, or hold their fist in the air symbolizing black power. Kaepernick believes that this will change things since he wants people to be aware of the race relation problems this country is facing.
Colin claims he doesn’t stand for the national anthem because of what the anthem pledges. He has publicly stated “”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.”
Noah Conner, a student at James Logan says a majority of his class doesn’t stand for the pledge, including himself. He respects and follows what Kaepernick does and states that that is the reason he doesn’t stand for the pledge in the morning. There have been many recent killings involving African Americans and the police. It has been happening too much, so this is the peaceful way people and students are addressing the issue. There have been other high school football games recently where some high school students in Oakland kneel for the pledge in honor of the lives lost in the hands of police officers. It is unfair to those innocent lives that were lost for no reason.