SAN DIEGO – Colin Kaepernick was not alone in not standing Friday night for the playing of the national anthem.
Safety Eric Reid joined Kaepernick in taking a knee among the 49ers on the team’s sideline during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner. Kaepernick said his protest was against police brutality and oppression of minorities in America.
Kaepernick was asked on Sunday why he did not recruit any of his teammates to join him in his protest.
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“This isn’t something I’m going to ask other people to put their necks out for what I’m doing,” Kaepernick said. “If they agree with me and feel strongly about it, then by all means, I hope they stand with me. But I’m not going to go and try to recruit people and be like, "Hey, come do this with me" because I know the consequences that come with that, and they need to make that decision for themselves.”
Reid, a four-year veteran, was voted last year as the 49ers’ player representative for the NFL Players Association. Reid, 24, was a first-round draft pick in 2013.