VETS CALL ON QB TO STAND FOR ANTHEM AT BEARS GAME
49ers’ Kaepernick has been kneeling to protest racial inequality
Dozens of military veterans and supporters of the armed forces gathered outside Soldier Field Saturday morning to urge San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to stand for the national anthem before his team takes on the Bears Sunday.
Since the beginning of the NFL season, Kaepernick has opted to drop to one knee before each game as the national anthem is played to protest racial inequality in the United States. Dozens of other athletes, from the professional level to high school, have also adopted the protest at their games.
The ongoing protest spurred about 50 veterans and police and fire union leaders, led by former 11th Ward Ald. James Balcer, to rally at the Gold Star Families Memorial and Park, just east of Soldier Field.
Balcer, himself a Vietnam War veteran, said the quarterback was disregarding the emotions of those who have served in the armed forces.
“The flag is the very symbol of our country. Soldier Field and the Gold Star police memorial are hallowed grounds,” said Balcer, who wore an American flag tie to the rally.
“For Mr. Kaepernick not to stand for our national anthem, to totally disregard the hurt and the feelings and the memory of those who’ve died in defense of our nation and serving and protecting our country [ currently], is wrong, totally wrong.”
Balcer suggested that if the quarterback is so dissatisfied with the United States, he could move.
“I’d like to remind Mr. Kaepernick people fight to get in this country, they don’t fight to leave it,” he said. “Any time you want to leave, you can leave.”
Ed Yohnka, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said focusing on the patriotism of Kaepernick’s protest was not what the quarterback intended.
“It’s unfortunate that this issue has become about the military and patriotism when, in fact, he began this as a protest against police abuse and a lack of police accountability,” Yohnka said. “Of all the places for that to be ignored and the problems of policing to be ignored, it seems a shame for that to happen in Chicago.”
The Communist group RevCom issued a statement in support of Kaepernick shortly before the veterans and their supporters gathered.
“This is a brave and righteous act of resistance,” the RevCom statement read. “We can not allow them to enforce patriotism under threat of intimidation and violence. We can’t allow them to muzzle criticism of police.”
But Jim Frazier, whose son was killed while serving in Afghanistan, said the quarterback’s act of taking a knee to protest racial inequality was akin to yelling “Fire!” in a theatre “because that causes harm. People get hurt.
Frazier said he’s not sure what Kaepernick is protesting, given his multi- million dollar contract: “I think he could probably put his mouth and his money to better use instead of just kneeling.”
Earlier this season, Kaepernick announced plans to donate $ 1 million to groups that work toward racial equity. Last month, he gave a $ 25,000 donation to the Black Youth Project 100 group, which is “dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people” and has a chapter in Chicago. He recently said he may donate more money to other groups in Chicago.
Thomas E. Ryan Jr., president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local No. 2, said unequivocally that Kaepernick’s kneeling was not welcome in Soldier Field.
“Colin, listen, you can protest any way you want, just not here,” Ryan said.
The 30- minute event closed with a wreath- laying ceremony and Balcer saying he hoped the Bears win Sunday’s game for the Gold Star families and “win one for America.”
“I’D LIKE TO REMIND MR. KAEPERNICK PEOPLE FIGHT TO GET IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY DON’T FIGHT TO LEAVE IT. ANY TIME YOU WANT TO LEAVE, YOU CAN LEAVE.” FORMER ALD. JAMES BALCER