Colin Kaeperpernick: Why I would do it all again despite it costing my career
'I would do it again' - Kaepernick reflects on price of protest, 10 years on
TL;DR
- Colin Kaepernick has no regrets about kneeling during the US national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality, despite it leading to his exile from the NFL.
- He anticipated the negative reaction but was surprised by the significant support he received and the efforts made to work against him and the movement.
- Kaepernick filed a grievance against NFL owners, believing they conspired not to hire him, eventually reaching a financial settlement.
- He sees sport and politics as inherently linked, refuting the idea that they should be kept separate, and notes that politicians often use sports for gain.
- Kaepernick's activism has inspired other athletes globally, including England's national football teams, though he acknowledges the momentum of athlete activism has slowed.
- He believes protests are needed more than ever, and that organizations and administrations have worked to quell them.
- Despite not playing for almost a decade, Kaepernick maintains his fitness and is considered a significant athlete in modern history, compared to figures like Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos.