Buffalo fans on Sunday booed San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick as he carried on his national anthem protest previous to delivering a discouraging performance against the Bills.
The quarterback arrived at New Era Field in New York giving tribute to Muhammad Ali. He wore a T-shirt with a picture of the boxing legend and civil rights campaigner.
Kaepernick kneeled during the United States national anthem as he has done all season. Two team mates joined him as a police officer stood immediately behind the trio.
A number of 49er players raised their right fists in another form of protest.
Sections of the crowd started chanting “USA, USA,” before the anthem. But Kaepernick took issue later at any suggestion that his stand was unnationalistic.
“I don’t understand what’s un-American about fighting for liberty and justice for everybody, for the equality this country says it stands for,” Kaepernick told reporters after being heckled prior to the game and out on the field.
The silent protest he claims is against social injustice and police brutality has divided views among National Football League fans since the pre-season.
Dismal 49ers performance
He was called up to start for the underachieving 49ers against the Bills.
In the second quarter, he connected with a pass to wide receiver Toney Smith. This was his first touchdown pass in 364 days, for a 53-yard catch-and-run goal.
However, highlights were few and far in between as the Bills whipped the 49ers 45 -16. Kaepernick connected with 13 of 29 passes for 187 yards.
Video uploaded on social media showed various anti-Kaepernick reaction as well as indications of support.
He said that he was undeterred by the hostility of some of the crowd. He added that he was focused on playing so he wasn’t really listening to what was going on in the stands.
The post Kaepernick ‘Booed’ by Buffalo fans appeared first on Newsline.
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