“Protesting is about forcing a conversation in public,” Deray McKesson, perhaps the most prominent face of the Black Lives Matter movement, told Stephen Colbert earlier this year.
After days of outrage nationwide directed towards 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his silent of protest of police brutality during the national anthem, the other side of the conversation is finally beginning to emerge.
On Tuesday evening, The #VeteransForKaepernick hashtag began trending on social media, illustrating support for the African-American athlete from a community many contended he irrefutable offended by failing to stand in honor of the U.S. flag. The topic was still trending on Wednesday morning.
#VeteransForKaepernick because I didn't volunteer to defend a country where police brutality is swept under the rug. pic.twitter.com/LtBkTvHHAn
— Baltic Avenue (@Baltic_Avenue) August 31, 2016
I serve for his right to protest.. I don't serve for Police Brutality.. #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/Q6GUNTwHDO
— Big Jeaux (@JoeOnDemand) August 31, 2016
I serve to protect your freedoms, not a song #VeteransForKaepernick
— Jeffrey Crossman (@JCrossman1) August 31, 2016
I took an oath & served, so players on a team I don't even like could have freedom of speech #VeteransforKaepernick😚 pic.twitter.com/yf7ZWPJvGs
— SunnyAnderson (Taylor's Version😘) (@SunnyAnderson) August 31, 2016
Don't use my service–or that of any veteran–to justify the silencing of black Americans. Not on my watch. #VeteransForKaepernick
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) August 31, 2016
To be sure, some critics of Kaepernick’s protest took to the #VeteransForKaepernick hashtag to dismiss his support from black veterans:
