Locals weigh in on Colin Kaepernick controversy
Football is officially back and the days leading up to Thursday night’s NFL opener have been a prime example of American sports intersecting with the American experience. Race relations, free speech, our national anthem.
One specific football player is the talk of the league for a choice he has made not to stand for the National Anthem before games. On Thursday night’s Broncos, Panthers game, Bronco’s linebacker Brandon Marshall chose not to stand for the Anthem.
Kapernick’s actions have some on Delmarva people angry, especially Glenn Ains, who owns Hoppers Tap House in Salisbury. He tells 47 ABC, “At this point he’s not welcome here unless he wants to say the pledge of allegiance, we’ve got two flags flying high, and apologize to America. I’m sure its going to come down to a misunderstanding of how he meant to portray what he was trying to accomplish but until then, you know, everybody’s welcome but if you’re going to disrespect the flag, stay out.”
But Salisbury University student Matthew White feels differently. White tells 47 ABC, “He’s got his right to do it and I support it, go ahead you know if that’s what you want to do that’s what you want to do its America you have the right to do it.”
Since announcing he would not stand during pre-game national anthems to raise awareness about racial injustice in America, the 49ers quarterback’s jerseys have been flying off shelves. White says he would buy one if he were a 49ers fan. Someone who probably wouldn’t? Retired Sergeant Major Chris Kineipp.
Kineipp tells 47 ABC, “He should be a little bit more respectful. Even though he has said that he respects the military, not standing for the flag is definitely a non priority, you have to stand.”
But Salisbury City Councilwoman April Jackson says the anthem is symbolic, while the right to protest is a concrete American concept. Jackson tells 47 ABC, “Is it disrespectful because he doesn’t want to stand, no its not disrespectful. Is it the song that brings togetherness is it the song that brings peace? No, its your actions. The young man is not wrong for what he is doing, he’s standing for what he feels is right.”
District 38-B Delegate Carl Anderton Jr. says that what Kapernick is doing is fair because it’s his right. Anderton Jr. tells 47 ABC, “You have the right to protest your government of course its the cool thing about living in this country. But I wouldn’t agree with his method. I just wouldn’t choose to do it that way at all, having family who has fought in the military, I lost a cousin in Iraq, I would never ever not salute the flag or the National Anthem.”
Since Kapernick there have been other athletes that have followed in his footsteps including soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who chose to kneel before a game on Sunday.
