2nd 49er Joins Kaepernick Protest

They took a knee for the anthem in San Diego
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 2, 2016 4:27 AM CDT
2nd 49er Joins Kaepernick Protest
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick greets fans after their 21-31 win against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL preseason football game Thursday in San Diego.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Colin Kaepernick once again refused to stand when the national anthem was played before a game Thursday night—and this time, he wasn't alone. 49ers safety Eric Reid also knelt as a Navy officer sang the anthem at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Reid—who spoke out earlier this week in support of Kaepernick and against police violence—hugged Kaepernick after the anthem was over. Reid said after the game that he wanted Kaepernick to "know that he's not the only person who feels the way he feels," NFL.com reports. Kaepernick and the 49ers were heavily booed throughout the preseason finale, which they won 31-21, with Kaepernick leading a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive.

Before the game, Kaepernick spent about 90 minutes talking to former Green Beret and Seattle Seahawks long snapper Nate Boyer, who published an open letter to Kaepernick in ArmyTimes.com. Boyer, who was invited to the game by Kaepernick, stood next to him with his hand over his heart during the anthem. The AP reports that Kaepernick remained standing with his teammates when "God Bless America" was performed during the fourth quarter. In Seattle, meanwhile, Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sat during the national anthem before their game against the Raiders in Oakland Thursday night. Lane tells the Seattle Times that he sat in support of Kaepernick's stance and had been planning the move all week. (Donald Trump thinks Kaepernick should find a new country.)

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