Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem at Thursday’s 49ers game because, as he has said, he will not “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” He isn’t the first to add fuel to the glaring issue in American society that is police brutality.

However, ever since the shooting of Trayvon Martin, four years ago, the fight against police brutality and for true equal rights has been pushed to the forefront.

The fight for equal rights and black lives has struck a powerful chord across our nation that is affecting us all. Kaerpenick’s refusal to stand for the anthem of a country with which he doesn’t agree is a continuation of that very fight.

However, Kaepernick is far from the first athlete to make a political statement at a game. In the height of the civil rights movement of the 1960s two Olympic athletes decided to use their fame to make a statement. During the 1968 Mexico City games, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, both felt it was their responsibility, with the world watching, to bring attention to the fight for equal rights. After they won gold and bronze in the 200 meter sprint, each man bowed his head and raised his fist in the air in solidarity with the ongoing civil rights struggle in America.

Smith raised his right in representation of black power, while Carlos his left to represent black unity, together they created an arch that was meant to represent black unity and black power. Their protest, considerably more mild than more recent protests today, outraged the American public, resulting in their removal from the national team and banning from the Olympic village.

The fight for civil rights isn’t a new idea in America. In fact it even Jackie Robinson, the first African American in the Major League was outspoken against the national anthem, saying, “I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag. I know that I am a black man in a white world.”

Kaepernick’s protest against the current state of our nation is not to say he hates America; it is simply pointing out flaws in our system.

If we ever wish to fix this broken system we call justice, we must stop alienating and disregarding every Black Lives Matter protest as just an angry black person. We need to start making changes and accepting that racism is as prevalent and alive in America today as it was 60 or even 100 years ago.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided once again to remain seated for the national anthem, only this time, on the Chargers’ annual “salute to the military” night Thursday, making an even bigger fool of himself.

Kaepernick, for the second preseason game in a row, has chosen to not take part in the national anthem because, as he has said, he can’t “show pride in a flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Racism is a real issue in this country, but refusing to participate in a tradition held to honor those who have served in the military is not the time to combat the problem.

Kaepernick comes off as ignorant. He makes millions of dollars every because his freedom has been fought for by our military. I understand he is trying to be an activist, but he is bringing his personal agenda to his profession. The national anthem itself does not spark debate on its own, and it does not make a racist out of someone who sings along, so why choose to boycott the anthem?

Kaepernick’s actions have put pressure on anyone who supports his cause to also sit down during the national anthem. This is direct disrespect towards the military. Simply because they fought for a country that is struggling through a time of racism does not mean they should be publicly disrespected. Kaepernick has unintentionally tied together supporting the national anthem with accepting racism.

When the national anthem plays, we stand to honor those who protect our country, those who died for our country. It unites us as independent from outside nations. In no way does it represent that we are perfect inside our borders, but it is there to honor those who fought to keep us independent. Without them, Kaepernick wouldn’t be able to play the sport he makes a living from. He is showing arrogance to the country that gave him everything he has.