San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick "embarrassed himself, the 49er organization, and the NFL" in the wake of his protest of the national anthem, according to police officers in the Bay Area.
In a critical letter sent to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and 49ers CEO Jed York, the head of the San Francisco Police Officers Association condemned comments Kaepernick made about police brutality, which he cited as a reason for sitting through the "Star Spangled Banner" before Friday's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
"While we certainly acknowledge Mr. Kaepernick’s First Amendment right to remain seated during the national anthem, as inappropriate as that may be, we will not stand by while he attacks police officers in this country with such statements as, ‘People are on paid leave while people of color are killed,'" SFPOA president Martin Halloran wrote in the letter, first obtained Monday by TMZ Sports.
Kaepernick, a native of Milwaukee, sparked national debate with his actions.
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In explaining his decision to reporters, Kaepernick made clear he was attempting to influence change across the country and in his hometown, the most recent site of unrest following officer-involved shootings, and would continue to sit until that is achieved.
"Ultimately it's to bring awareness and make people realize what's going on in this country," Kaepernick said, in part, during the 18-minute press conference in which he called for better training of police across the country. "There are a lot of things going on that are unjust, people aren't being held accountable for, and that's something that needs to change.
"Cops are getting paid leave for killing people. That's not right. That's not right by anyone's standards."
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While both the 49ers and the NFL issued statements supporting Kaepernick's right to sit during the anthem, they have not addressed his comments specifically.
Halloran wants York and the NFL to "denounce his foolish statements."
"Not only does he show an incredible lack of knowledge regarding our profession and 'officer involved' shootings, but also shows a naivety and total lack of sensitivity towards police officers," the letter continued. "Ironically it is those officers who have on numerous occasions protected Mr. Kaepernick and have ensured that the venues where the NFL holds its events are fully protected."
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It's the latest incident of a police union taking issue with an NFL player's stance on law enforcement this summer.
In July, the head of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association demanded an apology from Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, who shared a photo of a hooded figure cutting the throat of a handcuffed police officer in the wake of police killings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. The union threatened to pull police staffing from FirstEnergy Stadium over the incident.
Crowell later apologized for an "an extremely poor decision" and donated $35,000 to a fallen officers fund in Dallas, where five officers were shot dead while patrolling a protest of the killings.
