Colin Kaepernick and a Brief History of Protest in Sports

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the singing of the national anthem on Friday, sparking a heavy dose of criticism. Kaepernick said he would not “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,” according to an NFL interview on Friday.

Kaepernick's protest lands him among several other athletes who have used their fame to speak out about political issues of their day.