Colin Kaepernick has made waves in and out of the sports world, recently. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback made national headlines by sitting during the playing of the national anthem before a preseason game. Kaepernick declared that his public display was a protest of social injustices within the country.
Of course, Kaepernick’s protest was widely debated. But after the initial wave of disagreement with Kaep’s methods, many came to his support. That backing includes other athletes, including Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry.
More recently, another Warriors player, Kevin Durant, publicly stated his support for Kaepernick. The small forward said the following during a leadership gathering in Austin, Texas (via Anthony Slater of Mercury News):
“I’m behind anyone who stands up for what they believe in,” Durant said. “Colin Kaepernick is standing up for what he believes in. That’s what makes our country so great, right? You have the luxury to do so. He was unapologetic about it and, in his defense, I don’t think he was trying to disrespect anyone. I think he was trying to get his point across. I’m all for anyone who wants to do that. As athletes, we have this huge platform. A lot of people are watching at all times. Sometimes it may not be what you do, they like. But if you feel like it’s gonna be impactful, that’s on you. I feel like everyone should stand up for what they believe.”
While Kevin Durant didn’t speak specifically about Kaepernick’s cause, it’s great to see him lend some support to the quarterback. Durant is correct in his assessment of athletes’ platforms and the right to use them for important causes. Hopefully, we see more of this in light of Kaepernick’s stand.
