Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick received an award named for Muhammad Ali on Tuesday night, presented by a fellow cultural icon.
MORE: Kaepernick a Time 2017 Person of the Year finalist
Legendary singer Beyonce made a surprise appearance to hand Kaepernick the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award at Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year ceremony .
An excerpt from Kaepernick's acceptance speech:
'With or without the NFL’s platform, I will continue to work for the people'@Kaepernick7 receives SI's Muhammad Ali Legacy award #Sportsperson https://t.co/3wqaUVYZnf pic.twitter.com/dKJNX0d8vi
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 6, 2017
Kaepernick helped spark a national debate about race in the U.S. last year when he sat, then knelt, during the national anthem at 49ers games to protest police brutality. Other NFL players joined him in the protests, which have continued this season even as Kaepernick remains unsigned.
MORE: Altuve, Watt named SI Sportspersons of the Year
President Donald Trump is a vocal critic of the protests. He says teams should fire players for such actions.
The Muhammad Ali Legacy Award is given to athletes who dedicate their careers to changing the world around them. Past winners include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Magic Johnson.