Kaepernick joins Castlemont High's national anthem protest

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Colin Kaepernick spent his Friday night in the locker room and sideline of an Oakland high school football team that has joined his protest of racial inequalities.

Kaepernick attended Castlemont’s game at King’s Academy in Sunnyvale and spoke to the team before the game. During the playing of the national anthem, Kaepernick took a knee while pictures posted on social media show the Castlemont players and coaches on their backs with their hands in the air.

Kaepernick spoke passionately to the Castlemont team before the game, as captured in Benjamin Arnold’s videos posted on YouTube.

Kaepernick told the team that he knows the players might be in situations in which people do not treat them the same because of their skin color and they are not given the opportunities to be the best they can be. Last week, the entire Castlemont team took a knee during the playing of the national anthem.

“That’s why I made the decision to do what I did,” Kaepernick said. “You all inspired me with what you did, following that and standing up. You all are doing this at a much younger age than what I did. It took me a while to get to this point. And you all are conscious of this at this point in time to make that stand.”

“You are important. You make a difference. This matters. Everything you do matters. Look out for one another. Lift each other up. That’s what this is about. I had to come support you all. Because the same way you all took a stand and stood with me, I have to come out here and stand with you all. So I appreciate what you did. I love you all. You all (are) my brothers. I’m here with you.”

Kaepernick also spoke to the team about sticking together and supporting each other.

“What’s most important is you look out for one anther,” Kaepernick told the team. “This is your family. These are your brothers. I look at all of you as brothers. I see your strength. I see your power. I see your courage, your confidence. And that’s something you have to be able to speak into each other as well. When you talk to him, talk to him with confidence. Speak confidence into him. You go play great today. You’re going to be the best player out there. And not just the best player on the field, you’re going to be the best player when you walk off that field and into the real world.”

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