Before a football game, it is a tradition to stand with your hand on your heart while the Star Spangled Banner plays. Yet, Colin Kaepernick decided to take a knee.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color; to me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way, there are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick is the new face of Nike and former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. He decided to split away from the 49ers and become a free agent because they were no longer allowing him to kneel. Kneeling for a movement, a change. Many people found that disrespectful toward the many people who have fought for our country. Kneeling rubbed some the wrong way.

So far in 2018, 703 people have been killed by police. In 2016, when Kaepernick started protesting, 963 people had been killed by an officer. The African American race only makes up for 13% of the population, the rest of the population is 17% Hispanic and 63% Caucasian. Out of all people killed by police, 31% are African American. Still, 39% of African American people that are killed are not attacking. That is what Kaepernick is kneeling for.

Many, enraged by Kaepernick’s kneeling during the anthem two years ago, have decided to protest Nike’s ad campaign; they are burning their Nike items or cutting off the “swoosh.” They do not want anyone “disrespecting” the flag who is representing the brand.

It’s not disrespectful, he sacrificed his job and is simply standing up for what he believes in.