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#VeteransForKaepernick Silences Critics Who Claim Kaepernick’s Protest is ‘Disrespects’ Their Service

By | Published on August 31, 2016
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Veterans express their support for 49ner's player Colin Kaepernick with #VeteransForKaepernick (Twitter)

Veterans express their support for 49ers player Colin Kaepernick with #VeteransForKaepernick (Twitter)

After Colin Kaepernick announced he won’t rise for the national anthem during the upcoming football season, many bashed him. The criticism of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback stems from his supposed lack of patriotism. But one group is standing in solidarity.

The hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick emerged on Twitter Aug. 30, and many soldiers voiced their experience as Black men and women in the military and at home.

Blorenzo pointed out his grandfather served in Vietnam twice but was unable to rent a home in America because of his race.

User blasianbri’s grandfather had a similar experience while attempting to book a hotel room in his uniform.

https://twitter.com/blasianbri_/status/770760106573123584

And Ms. Bordeaux’s veteran fiancé continues to get placed in handcuffs during traffic stops.

@Troncat_Montana called out others who try to explain military members’ feelings without being a part of it.

Nicole shared that her quarter-century-long military service was to protect the First Amendment rights of all Americans.

@JoeOnDemand shared his reason for serving: Kaepernick’s right to protest and not police brutality.

Phillip Richardson held freedom in a higher regard than America’s anthem.

https://twitter.com/prich8604/status/770797804973203456

And @LiberationBrown did not separate her Blackness from her status as a soldier.

https://twitter.com/LiberationBrown/status/770835607203483648

Other Twitter users largely supported the hashtag.

Benjamin Dixon tweeted naysayers’ realization about #VeteransForKaepernick.

And Awesomely Luvvie shared a sappy reaction to the veterans’ support.

But some reactions were less than favorable.

Heinrich accused supporters of being new military members who “don’t understand why what Colin did is bad.”

https://twitter.com/BEASTMASTERTOAD/status/770984631252488192

And Jarami Feith deemed it “stupid” and compared it to the #POWsForTrump hashtag.

Some accused Kaepernick of being anti-military for his stance. However, he made it clear he has “great respect” for the individuals who served. The athlete also shared he has family and friends who fought for the nation.

He took issue with the way police treat veterans on American soil.

“I’ve seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they have fought for,” he told press Aug. 28. “And have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That’s not right.”

 

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