49ers safety Eric Reid penned an excellent op-ed in Monday’s New York Times, explaining he and former teammate Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel for the national anthem last year, something Reid has continued to do this season.
Reid, 25, says he reached a tipping point in 2016, when he was brought to tears by the shooting of Alton Sterling in his home town of Baton Rouge, La. Shortly after, Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the national anthem to protest social injustice and racial inequality during the 49ers’ third preseason game. Guided by his faith, Reid felt compelled to join his teammate and take action.
I approached Colin the Saturday before our next game to discuss how I could get involved with the cause but also how we could make a more powerful and positive impact on the social justice movement. We spoke at length about many of the issues that face our community, including systemic oppression against people of color, police brutality and the criminal justice system. We also discussed how we could use our platform, provided to us by being professional athletes in the N.F.L., to speak for those who are voiceless.
After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former N.F.L. player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, the next day during the anthem as a peaceful protest. We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy.
Reid also expressed disappointment that some people are still misconstruing the point of players kneeling for the national anthem, and that he has been “heartbroken” by Kaepernick’s treatment.
It baffles me that our protest is still being misconstrued as disrespectful to the country, flag and military personnel. We chose it because it’s exactly the opposite. It has always been my understanding that the brave men and women who fought and died for our country did so to ensure that we could live in a fair and free society, which includes the right to speak out in protest.It should go without saying that I love my country and I’m proud to be an American. But, to quote James Baldwin, “exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
I can’t find words that appropriately express how heartbroken I am to see the constant smears against Colin, a person who helped start the movement with only the very best of intentions. We are talking about a man who helped to orchestrate a commercial planeful of food and supplies for famine-stricken Somalia. A man who has invested his time and money into needy communities here at home. A man I am proud to call my brother, who should be celebrated for his courage to seek change on important issues. Instead, to this day, he is unemployed and portrayed as a radical un-American who wants to divide our country.
The full piece is more than worth your time and can be found here.