Colin Kaepernick may not be able to shake off being the NFL's most reviled player to patriotic Americans after this NFL season ends. The 49ers quarterback's political stance has garnered the vitriol of his former coaches, fans, sports icons, and even his own birth mother Heidi Russo.
After U.S. Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris took a shot at Kaepernick during his speech about the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks on Wednesday, Kaepernick's surrogate parents had heard enough from the public, and finally decided to break their silence to support their son.
In a statement to ESPN's The Undefeated on Friday, Teresa and Rick Kaepernick explained their own initial shock when Colin began his National Anthem protest in August during the NFL's preseason. "When Colin first 'took a knee,' his family was as surprised as anyone," Kaepernick's parents said. They added, "We did not understand why he was doing this and were overwhelmed with the public reaction and hate."
Both Teresa and Rick knew the backlash that would ensue from their son's actions. They continued:
"Colin is carrying a heavy load and following a difficult path that he truly believes in. He is putting his entire future and possibly his life on the line for those beliefs. As his parents, it pains us to read articles and tweets saying that his family does not support him; this could not be further from the truth. We want people to know that we are very proud of our son and admire his strength and courage in kneeling for the rights of others."
Kaepernick's parents also mentioned that they received plenty of hate mail with racial remarks as well.
"Colin not only received terrible racist tweets, but also received letters directly to our home similar to that recently received by (Broncos LB) Brandon Marshall," the wrote. "We were truly shocked at the amount of racist hatred out there! Until this had occurred, we had naively believed that the racial atmosphere in this country was far better than it actually is. Prayer and talks with our son gave us a much better understanding of the reason for his protest and how we should view it."
They denounced the dig that Admiral Harry Harris took at their son, as well as the perception that Colin's actions reflect his views on the U.S. military.
Related Stories
Colin Kaepernick's Birth Mom Criticizes Him for Not Standing During National Anthem
Colin Kaepernick’s birth mom Heidi Russo used Twitter to criticize his decision not to stand during the national anthem.
Colin Kaepernick Plans to Donate $1 Million to Charity, Become Involved in Community Activism
Colin Kaepernick said he plans to donate $1 million to charities that support racial equality.
Colin Kaepernick: It Would Have Been 'Hypocritical' for Me to Vote in Presidential Election
Colin Kaepernick continues to defend his decision not to vote in the presidential election.
