Although he doesn’t outright agree with it, President Obama is defending NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick‘s decision to not stand during the national anthem.
“It’s the way democracy works” said President Obama while explaining how he felt about Kaepernick’s choice to take a stand against police brutality and racial injustice, by sitting down during the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Obama made his remarks while speaking in front of world economic leaders in China.
He says:
“I think there are a lot of ways you can do it as a general matter when it comes to the flag and the national anthem and the meaning that that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who’ve fought for us. That is a tough thing for them to get past to then hear what his deeper concerns are.”
He went on to say that he is glad to see people “trying to think through how they can be part of our democratic process than people who are just sitting on the sidelines and not paying attention at all.”
Kaepernick’s stance has drawn positive feedback from many, while “Americans” claim that he is disrespecting the troops. San Francisco police officers have even threatened to not do their jobs if the San Francisco 49ers organization doesn’t punish Kaepernick for his actions.
Watch the video after the jump to see President Obama’s remarks in their entirety.
