Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field, Sept. 25, 2016 in Seattle.
An NFL reporter is now taking back a statement he made live on TV this morning that former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is not planning to continue kneeling in protest during the national anthem if he is given a chance to play in the league again.
After reporter Jason La Canfora’s statement to CBS Sports was widely reported, he tweeted Sunday afternoon that he had not spoken to Kaepernick about whether he would continue the protest but rather had “relayed” another report.
Standing for Anthem wasn’t something that I spoke to Colin about sat. I relayed what had been reported about him standing in the future…
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 8, 2017
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Colin would have to address any future demonstrations. I didn’t ask him if he would sit or stand. Our chat primarily about his will to play
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 8, 2017
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I know @Kaepernick7 is fully committed to playing football and helping those in need. What he would do during the Anthem I do not know
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 8, 2017
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Kaepernick himself retweeted posts that La Canfora’s report was false, and later, a quote attributed to Winston Churchill about lies.
The reports that Colin will stand for the anthem are completely false! He has never discussed this with anyone. pic.twitter.com/tWusUBJMeF
— NESSA (@nessnitty) October 8, 2017
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1) Just got a message from @Kaepernick7, who says he has not discussed with anyone his plans in the event he is signed by an NFL team.
— Full Dissident (@hbryant42) October 8, 2017
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A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
Winston S. Churchill
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) October 8, 2017
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Kaepernick began his silent protest of kneeling during the anthem when he was playing in the 2016 preseason for the San Francisco 49ers. He told the media he was protesting against the treatment of blacks in the United States.
Some other NFL players followed his lead during the 2016 season, drawing a mixed response from football fans and the general public, with some supporting the protest and others not.
But Kaepernick’s most visible impact seemed to come at the start of this season, even though he himself has not been signed yet to a team, after President Donald Trump at a campaign-style rally in Alabama slammed NFL players who participate in the protest.
The president told the crowd at the rally on Sept. 22 that teams should fire players who kneel during the anthem.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say: ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now, out,'” Trump said.
In response at NFL games over the next few days, many more players kneeled during the anthem or locked arms with teammates and in some cases also with their team’s owners.
SOURCE: ABC News
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