President Obama showed sympathy for embattled NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem, saying approvingly that Kaepernick has generated more national conversation about “topics that need to be talked about.”
The president was asked about the quarterback’s protest gesture at a news conference Monday in China. Kaepernick’s protest is over perceived racial injustice.
Obama said the San Francisco 49ers player is the latest in a long line of athletes who have exercised their constitutional right to make a statement about social issues, is sincere and “cares about some real, legitimate issues.”
“I think there are a lot of ways you can do it … when it comes to the flag and the National Anthem, and the meaning that that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who fought for us, that is a tough thing for them to get past to then hear what his deeper concerns are,” Obama said.
“But I don’t doubt his sincerity. I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that need to be talked about and, if nothing else, what he’s done is generated more conversation about some topics that need to be talked about.”
Obama called Kaepernick’s protest “messy,” but added “that’s the way democracy works.”
“I’d rather have young people who are engaged in the argument and trying to think through how they can be part of our democratic process than people who are just sitting on the sidelines not paying attention at all.”
Kaepernick has been assailed since starting his silent protest. He’s said it’s not anti-American but a means to bring attention to racial injustice.
