Colin Kaepernick was a talented quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, but made headlines when people began to notice him sitting during the National Anthem. Kaepernick started off alone in his decision to not stand for the Anthem, but was soon joined by athletes of all different sports and ages. The impact he made changed his career forever.
Kaepernick first started this protest in August 2016 when he sat on the bench during the National Anthem. He made a statement about his decision to sit on Aug. 28, 2016. According to the Google Trends graph, there is a significant increase in Kaepernick’s searches from August 28th-September 3rd, 2016.
Kaepernick’s searches peaked again in September of 2017 after President Donald Trump tweeted about the protests. Trump expresses his feelings towards the NFL players kneeling and sitting for the National Anthem through social media saying that it is “disrespectful” and the players should be fired. With the use of Twitter, the story of Kaepernick gained popularity once again.
Colin Kaepernick states that he will continue to stand with those that are oppressed. He believes the flag does not represent what it is supposed to, so until it does, he will kneel during the National Anthem. Kaepernick no longer has a career in the NFL, but has created awareness and a huge impact on our society.
Claire Crane's Blog 