More than a thousand demonstrators rallied at the NFL’s midtown Manhattan headquarters on Wednesday evening to show their support for former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who drew controversy last season for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial disparities in the United States.
Kaepernick opted out of his 49ers contract in March and with the NFL pre-season underway and the season starting soon, he remains without a spot on an NFL roster. National anthem protests have continued in his absence. On Monday night, about a dozen Cleveland Browns players knelt and prayed in silent protest during the national anthem including the first white player to kneel – tight end Seth DeValve.
A massive crowd of supporters gathered in a rally in front of the league’s main offices in Manhattan organized by multiple civil rights groups. The 29-year-old Kaepernick led the 49ers to a Super Bowl four years ago and supporters of Kaepernick say he’s being unfairly blackballed by NFL owners for his stance.
