Kaepernick protesters march on DeBartolo HQ in Boardman
A group of protesters gathered in Boardman on Sunday to make their feelings known about the actions of a San Francisco 49ers football player who is declining to stand when the Star Spangled Banner is played before games.
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BOARDMAN TWP., Ohio - A group of protesters gathered in Boardman on Sunday to make their feelings known about the actions of a San Francisco 49ers football player who is declining to stand when the Star Spangled Banner is played before games.
Led by a red convertible flying two American flags, a retired U.S. Marine coordinated a march of about two dozen veterans and members of their families to march on the DeBartolo Corporate headquarters.
Retired Col. Brian Kennedy organized the protest along Market Street to coincide with the start of Sunday's 49ers - Seahawks game.
Although the team is headquartered in San Francisco, the DeBartolo building in Boardman bears a large "SF" logo of the NFL team.
Denise DeBartolo York and her husband John York co-chair the franchise.
In a news release, Kennedy said that the protest was aimed at 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been dropping to one knee instead of standing during the playing of the National Anthem before games.
According to the Associated Press, the quarterback cited numerous reasons for his actions, ranging from racial injustice and minority oppression to police brutality and the treatment of military veterans.
"Colin Kaepernick went to a high school in Oakland, CA and encouraged and supported high school players lying on their backs during the National Anthem, that was the last straw," said Kennedy.
Kennedy claims that this is not a black and white issue. "It's raising awareness that we are Americans FIRST," says Kennedy. "Many patriots in this Nation's history have served, fought, bled and died with little concern of their comrade's race."
Kennedy says he wants accountability by the NFL and 49ers ownership to enforce what he calls "an acceptable level of behavior of their players."
"Once the NFL enforces discipline toward our flag and anthem and the 49ers discipline or release Colin Kaepernick, our protest will occur every time the 49ers play to highlight Kaepernick's despicable behavior," said Kennedy.
Kaepernick's Twitter account is filled with re-tweets of videos and accounts of other athletes and fans either following his example and declining to stand during the Anthem or raising their fists.
