SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is refusing to stand for the national anthem before games because he believes the United States oppresses African Americans and other minorities. Kaepernick sat on the team’s bench Friday night during the anthem before the Niners played host to the Green Bay Packers in an exhibition game. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,” Kaepernick said. “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony,” the team said. In 1996, NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamist beliefs.

Source: National Post August 27, 2016 16:52 UTC