On Sunday, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick called the NFL’s social justice initiatives “propaganda.”
The 32-year-old quarterback, who remains unsigned. First led the kneeling protests during the national anthem in 2016. To bring attention to police brutality and racial injustice.
In June, NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell admitted that league was “wrong”. In taking so long to acknowledge the message behind the kneeling protests. Since then, the NFL has taken largely symbolic steps. Allowing racial justice messages in end zones and on helmets and T-shirts, for instance.
However, Kaepernick does not believe the NFL is sincere about its advocacy. Also accused the league of blackballing free agent safety Eric Reid. Sounds familiar?
“While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life. They are still actively blackballing Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) for fighting for the Black community,” Kaepernick tweeted Sunday. “Eric set 2 franchise records last year. Also is one of the best defensive players in the league.”
Do You Agree With Colin Kaepernick Saying NFL Propaganda?
Last season, as a member of the Carolina Panthers, Reid finished with 130 tackles and four sacks – both franchise records for a defensive back. However, he was released by the team during the offseason.
Reid joined Kaepernick in the kneeling protests when they were both members of the 49ers, and he has been critical of the NFL since.
On Monday, Reid called the league’s efforts to put a spotlight on the racial justice issues “half-hearted at best.”
“@nflcommish has gotten comfortable saying he ‘was wrong’ as if his mere acknowledgement reconciles his admitted wrongdoing,” Reid tweeted. “He hasn’t even called Colin to apologize, let alone reconcile, proving this is only PR for the current business climate. As such, Roger Goodell uses video of Colin courageously kneeling to legitimize their disingenuous PR while simultaneously perpetuating systemic oppression, that the video he’s using fights against, by continuing to rob Colin of his career. It’s diabolical.”
