Member-only story
Soldiers Fought So Colin Kaepernick Could Kneel
The First Amendment gives him that right
When Colin Kaepernick started taking the knee at football games, many on the right were outraged and they spoke out against it.
Which was their right. However, Kaepernick also had the right to bend his knee.
In fact, Veteran’s groups supported him.
The person who actually advised him to kneel was a retired Army Green Beret, Nate Boyer. He noticed Kaepernick had been sitting during the National Anthem and he was initially outraged.
However, he and Kaepernick went on to have a respectful conversation. He explained his service to the United States and why he believed in standing. Kaepernick shared his own point of view — that he could not stand for the flag of a country that oppresses black people.
Boyer suggested Kaepernick kneel rather than sitting during the anthem. He pointed out that this would allow the football player to be next to his teammates while still making his point in a respectful manner.
According to Boyer, many people who were indifferent to the anthem became enraged at the protest.
However, a veteran’s group, Vote Vets, gathered 5,500 signatures in support of the ball player. Prior to that, the hashtag…
