San Francisco quarterback Collin Kaepernick refused to stand during the National Anthem in a pre-season game. He said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color, to me this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

The 49ers issued a statement saying, “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony.” While the National Anthem played before the pre-season game, Collin Kaepernick was sitting on the bench with his hat on. The 49ers’ coach, Chip Kelly, told reporters,”It’s his right as a citizen” and said, “It’s not my right to tell him not to do something.” The National Anthem is an American tradition; many players don’t know how to react due to the fact that the leader of the team did not stand up for the National Anthem before the game.

4 Miami Dolphins players: Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Jelani Jenkins, and Kenny Stills have also taken a  knee while the National Anthem played before the game against the Seahawks. The players have nothing against the flag, the military or anything. Jelani Jenkins said, “I chose to get involved to see if I can create change and raise awareness. And I want to make it clear that there is no disrespect to the military or to police officers – I am not about that. I love everyone. I would like to keep moving  forward in the right direction with everybody: equal rights, equal opportunity. From my position, it doesn’t seem like it’s happening. That’s why I took a stand.”

What do The Paper Cut readers think?  Out of 162 people who answered last issues polls, only 22 voters (14%) stated that Kaepernick not standing for the anthem riled them up.