If you’re an American and you’ve heard about Colin Kaepernick’s protest, you likely have one of three opinions on the matter: You strongly support him, you’re strongly against him or you just don’t care and wish this story would be over.
And because it’s America and we have freedom of speech, you’re allowed to have any of those opinions, just like Kaepernick can have and express his.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has taken a lot of heat in the past week after people noticed him sitting during “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a previous preseason game. His comments explaining his position have been a topic of conversation, too.
Thursday night, he continued his protest by kneeling during the national anthem, this time during a road game in San Diego on a night where the Chargers were honoring military personnel — a mere coincidence, and something the team does every preseason.
People took to Twitter and reacted, of course. We wanted to know what those people were saying, so we did a Twitter search for “Colin Kaepernick” and scrolled through the first few hundred we saw. The reaction seemed to be very supportive of Kaepernick, as you’ll see below.
We kept searching in hopes of finding reactions on the other side of the fence to paint a fair picture. Unfortunately, many of those tweets denouncing Kaepernick’s decision included profane language and/or racist and derogatory comments toward Kaepernick, so we couldn’t include them in this list. But they were there, and so we did our best to find a few non-derogatory tweets to include and represent those people.
Here’s a snippet of what people were thinking Thursday night.
I support Colin #Kaepernick & San Francisco 49ers safety Eric #Reid.
— Chuck Morse (@wellslake) September 2, 2016
#JeremyLane & #EricReed joined #ColinKaepernick in sitting out the anthem tonight. ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 #BlackLivesMatter
— K. Dom (@___shesgolden) September 2, 2016
Not a 49ers fan but proud of @Kaepernick7 and @StayingInMyLane as well. I support you guys
— Phil Woitaszewski (@philnevergiveup) September 2, 2016
I don't think what @Kaepernick7 is doing is wrong in any ways. The amount of media coverage this is getting is stupid.
— kc (@kelseylyn__) September 2, 2016
Everytime Colin Kaepernick sitting during the anthem passes on my TL I smile.
— Charell (@charelliam) September 2, 2016
@Kaepernick7 I'm not a psychologist I'm an economist sports fan and a libertarian. Therefore I believe in free speech. Be true to yourself.
— Hatch (@spotterdottom) September 2, 2016
.#ColinKaepernick is a dick for wearing socks that defame pigs by portraying them as cops.
— Brett Erickson (@brettnotbrent) September 2, 2016
Colin Kaepernick was greeted with jeers and boos as he took the field tonight. https://t.co/rpaw8nOHap pic.twitter.com/GuiGzbtejP
— abc13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 2, 2016
Like how long have we been waiting to see professional athletes speak their minds on a larger scale? Get 'em, @Kaepernick7.
— Anna Webb (@therealannawebb) September 2, 2016
Thank you @Kaepernick7
— K. Badu (@beauty613) September 2, 2016
Yo white people hurtling abuse at Colin Kaepernick — your behavior is racist and out of line. We don't determine what counts as protest.
— Rachel Vorona Cote (@RVoronaCote) September 2, 2016
Colin Kaepernick thank you for standing up or should I say sitting down for your belief and support. #STAY WOKE
— chris womble (@topher181) September 2, 2016
Love and respect for @Kaepernick7 and Jeremy Lane. Hope more players show support. #nfl
— Green Hellion (@GreenHellion) September 2, 2016
@mariaCBS5 @49ers @Kaepernick7 Only in America do we have the freedoms to express ourselves freely, he went overboard, he is washed up…
— Roberto Cuilan (@mizpq) September 2, 2016
It's funny how the NFL hates Colin Kaepernick for standing up for civil rights but gives minor suspension for domestic violence
— Urban Lightskin (@dezz_cole) September 2, 2016
If I or anyone did what @Kaepernick7 did while on the clock we'd be fired. He's being paid a salary to do a job not express his opinions.
— Dick Blinken (@Dick_Blinken) September 2, 2016
You're embarrassing your parents and yourself. Grow up… #ColinKaepernick
— Edwin Pomphrey (@EPomphrey) September 2, 2016
@Kaepernick7 go make millions of dollars in another country for being mediocre. #impressedbymediocrity
— Ben Smiley (@ben_smiley18) September 2, 2016
Thumbnail photo via Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports Images
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