Yesterday during Super Bowl LV, Former NFL player-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick started trending on Twitter after the NFL released a commercial about its social justice initiatives.
The Inspire Change commercial featured clips of demonstrations against racial inequality and police brutality, as well as the Hall of Fame speech by LaDanian Tomlinson discussing how football brings people together. In a display of unity and kneeling on the sidelines, the ad featured players bearing the names of victims of police violence on the back of their helmets, as well as players locking arms in solidarity.
But absent from the ad was Kaepernick, who began his advocacy during the 2016 season when he protested to raise awareness of racial inequality and police violence during the national anthem.
The commercial said, “The NFL is committing $250 million to help end systemic racism”–which is a slap in the face to Kaepernick, who has since been blackballed from the industry.
Fans were not here for the NFL’s commercial, and Twitter users were not afraid to express their opinions and show their love and support to the former 49ers quarterback:
https://twitter.com/yagirlcinthia/status/1358588092291162119?s=20
https://twitter.com/ava/status/1358530012295557120?s=20
