Moments before Colin Kaepernick took the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, there was an intensity in the air that had the feel of a playoff game. However, it was only a game in early fall between two teams (San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills) that aren’t expected to make it to the Super Bowl. But football only served as the backstory to a larger situation.
Colin Kaepernick was making his first start of the 2016 NFL season and the nation waited with anticipation to see how Buffalo Bills fans would react to his protest of the National Anthem. Outside the stadium, some fans sold shirts that featured a target on Kaepernick’s image with the words, “Wanted: Notorious Disgrace to America.” Other fans sold shirts with the words, “Shut Up and Stand Up!”
But there were other supporters of Kaepernick who held signs that read, “Bills Fans for Black Lives Matter.” The group kneeled in solidarity with Kaepernick.
Inside of Ralph Wilson Stadium, the atmosphere was still intense. Before the National Anthem was sung, Bills fans booed Kaepernick vigorously and chanted “USA! USA! USA!” as if the embattled quarterback lacked patriotism. Kaepernick continued his protest and kneeled during the National Anthem before taking the field.
Following the game, Kaepernick took a moment to blast NFL fans who think his protest is un-American. “I don’t understand what’s un-American about fighting for liberty and justice for everybody,” he said. “This country says it stands for equality. I see it as very patriotic and American to uphold The United States to a standard that it says it lives by.”
Kaepernick also took a moment to thank the fans who showed support.
“I had some good fans come up before the game and say they support me,” Kaepernick said. “So it depends on who the person is. At the end of the day, I’m going to continue fighting for what I’m fighting for.”
