Organization gives former San Francisco 49ers star ambassador of conscience award for kneeling at games to protest racial inequalityAmnesty International on Saturday honored Colin Kaepernick with its ambassador of conscience award for 2018, lauding the NFL quarterback’s peaceful protests against racial inequality. Kaepernick first knelt during the pre-game playing of the US national anthem when he was with the 49ers in 2016, to protest police brutality. Kaepernick was not signed for the 2017 season following his release in San Francisco. Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty called Kaepernick “an athlete who is now widely recognized for his activism because of his refusal to ignore or accept racial discrimination”. Amnesty hands its award each year to a person or organization “dedicated to fighting injustice and using their talents to inspire others”.

Source: The Guardian April 21, 2018 17:08 UTC