Since before the season started, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision not to stand during the Star-Spangled Banner has been a national topic of discussion, sparking equal parts support and outrage.
Kaepernick has seen and heard from those in both camps throughout the season, especially on the road. The six-year veteran spoke with the local media Tuesday about the different receptions he’s received around the country this season, contrasting the reactions in Buffalo and Atlanta specifically.
“I think that’s something to me that was very evident depending on where we’re playing,” Kaepernick began when asked about the support he’s received in different regions.
“Atlanta was somewhere where I had a lot of support, a lot of people saying they agree with what I’m doing, support it and are happy that I did it and to keep going and to stay strong.”
“And there’s other places where the fans don’t agree as much. Buffalo, in particular, was one where that was very evident. So it shows the different cultures and different beliefs throughout this country and it also makes it very evident that there’s a difference in perspective between white America and black America.”
During the 49ers trip to Buffalo on October 16, fans sold t-shirts outside the stadium with a rifle scope trained on a picture of Kaepernick with the message ‘WANTED: Notorious Disgrace to America’ printed on it. Fans were also seen spearing a dummy with a Kaepernick jersey and wig and were overheard yelling ‘tackle the Muslim.’
“I think volume, what I heard, things that I saw after the fact as far as in the parking lot, T-shirts, all of those things,” Kaepernick said. “It was very evident that this was something that they don’t agree with, which to me I don’t understand.”
Kaepernick contrasted that experience with how he was treated in Atlanta, where he received encouragement throughout his stay.
“I don’t move around too much when we’re there, but, as far as the hotel staff, the people that are around, a lot of support and a lot of people making sure they went out of their way to say that they did support it, which means a lot,” Kaepernick said. “I hope those people and people that support it use their voices more and more and speak out more and more to try to help create change.”
The session closed with Kaepernick being asked if he has a desire to go back to regions like Buffalo, who have shown animosity towards his message of racial equality, in order to facilitate change.
“I want to go where people truly want to create change and that’s somewhere that change definitely does need to be created, but I think there are better places for this to be initiated and grow from there.”