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Demonstrators gathered in the hundreds outside the Manhattan headquarters of the NFL to show their support for former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Teams have apparently refused to sign the football player following his protests against police brutality and racism in the United States, which he expressed by kneeling during the national anthem.
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The star earned both hatred and accolades for his protests, which came during the height of protests against police brutality and inspired similar acts from his fellow players. Kaepernick remains unsigned by an NFL team ahead of the 2017 season after opting out of his 49ers contract in March.
The 2017 season begins next month, and many blame his continued free agent status on a political witch-hunt launched against him for his perceived lack of patriotism.
The demonstration was launched by a dozen groups, who flooded the front of the NFL headquarters to blast the organization's insensitivity to the plight of oppressed nationalities in the U.S. as evidenced by their treatment of Kaepernick.
Protesters wore his jersey and held up signs with slogans such as “I'm With Kap,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “Stop Whiteballing Kaepernick!” Many among the protesters called for a boycott.
"We have a modern-day Muhammad Ali," Espranza Humphrey of the Bronx told NBC, referring to Ali's anti-imperialist stances and opposition to anti-Black racism. "This is someone who is really standing up for something."
A dozen Cleveland Browns players held a Kaepernick-style protest Monday during the national anthem as several other players stood near them to show their support to them in solidarity. The group also included white players.
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