SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco 49ers management is leaving it up to quarterback Colin Kaepernick and its other players to decide whether or not they wish stand up during the playing of the National Anthem.

Forty niners Vice President of Communications, Bob Lange, issued a statement on Monday in response to a demonstration staged by military veterans in protest of Kaepernick's decision to kneel instead of stand when the Star Spangled Banner is played before each game.

The statement from the 49ers follows:

“The National Anthem has always been a special element of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country, while reflecting on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In honoring American principles such as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we respect the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the National Anthem.”

According to the Associated Press, Kaepernick has cited numerous reasons for his actions, ranging from racial injustice and minority oppression to police brutality and the treatment of military veterans.

On Sunday, retired U.S. Marine Colonel Brian Kennedy organized about two dozen veterans and their families to march on the DeBartolo Corporate headquarters in Boardman to hold the NFL and 49ers ownership to accountable for what he calls "an acceptable level of behavior of their players."

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.

Kennedy said on Sunday that the protests will continue until the NFL “enforces discipline toward our flag and anthem and the 49ers discipline or release Colin Kaepernick.”

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