Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit down during the national anthem has outraged many, to the point where #boycottNFL is currently the top Twitter trend in the U.S. Of course, the hashtag’s popularity is also due to others laughing it off and even claiming hypocrisy.
A few players have since joined the San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback in protest, including Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall (not to be confused with the former Denver stud wide receiver of the same name). He took a knee last night prior to the team’s season-opening win over its Super Bowl rival, the Carolina Panthers.
In a post-game press conference after the tight 21-20 victory, Marshall told reporters that he didn’t just take a knee but that he will also donate “an undisclosed amount” of money to U.S. military veterans.
“Colin is my fraternity brother, my ex-teammate,” the University of Nevada alum said. “I support Colin and what he’s trying to do.”
Marshall went on to say, “The message is: I’m against social injustice. I’m not against the military or police or America at all. I’m against social injustice, and I feel like this was the right thing to do.”
“I feel like this is the right platform,” he continued, according to NFL.com. “This is our only platform to really be heard. … I feel like a lot of times people want us to just shut up and entertain them, shut up and play football. But we have voices as well. We’re actually educated individuals that went to college.”
“So when we have an opinion and we speak it, I feel like a lot of people bash us for what we have to say,” Marshall concluded.
With the regular season now officially underway, the stakes for players, teams, sponsors and the league are noticeably higher, even on social media.
Below are some of the top tweets from both sides of the issue.
https://twitter.com/TamiLahren/status/770663444731211776
https://twitter.com/JeannaEckert/status/770623011703525377
People wan #boycottNFL not cuz they have a team disrespecting a race of people who HAD THEIR LAND STOLEN BUT BECAUSE SOMEONE TAKES A KNEE
— CT (@SaintWalker191) September 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/MacFormer97/status/774239160202891264
I can think of 99 reasons to #boycottNFL but Colin Kaepernick ain't one.
— Nubyjas Wilborn (@nwilborn19) September 9, 2016
PLEASE. Y'all ain't boycottin' sh*t. #boycottNFL pic.twitter.com/FsBfWZ2ahe
— Middle Aged Gambino (@bored_in_jersey) September 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/SunOfMalcolmX/status/774230564354289664
https://twitter.com/mmilnejones/status/770684556294905856
Stop your lying asses acting like you won't watch Sunday #boycottNFL pic.twitter.com/V0Ic8npyQN
— Christian (@ctesso121) September 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/mliber102/status/770656121862356994
We're SURE this isn't the reason people are posting to #boycottNFL? https://t.co/2D3adRInPT
— Max Samis (@Max_Samis) September 9, 2016