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To: NFL Owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell
Tell the NFL: Apologize to Colin Kaepernick NOW
Apologize to Colin Kaepernick immediately so that your fans, including President Trump, know unequivocally: He was RIGHT to kneel against police brutality and racial inequality.
Why is this important?
If NFL owners want to show they're committed to the fight against racial injustice and police violence against Black people, they can start by apologizing to Colin Kaepernick.
In 2016, Colin Kaepernick began kneeling in protest against police brutality and racial inequality. He faced racist abuse online and at games, and President Trump fanned the flames, telling NFL owners to "Get that son of a bitch off the field now." Kaepernick hasn't played an NFL game since that season because NFL owners colluded to follow President Trump's order and keep him off the field "for disrespecting the flag."
Now, the NFL is being lauded because its commissioner, Roger Goodell, affirmed that Black lives matter and condemned "the systematic oppression of Black people." That's better than their 2016 response, but it's not enough (and it only came after leading Black players demanded it).
Current and former NFL players and sports journalists have responded in unison that an apology to Kaepernick would show that the NFL is serious about its commitment. We can amplify their message to the league commissioner and owners, which include a number of President Trump supporters.
The NFL's lack of support for Kaepernick's right to protest is what created space for President Donald Trump and his supporters to bash him for "disrespecting the flag," distorting the truth of his protest. Apologizing to Colin Kaepernick will send a powerful message to the NFL's fan base, especially fans who incorrectly think the protest is about the flag.