Police threaten to boycott Kaepernick

Kaepernick has been at the center of a renewed US debate about nationalism, racism, and police brutality since he first refused to stand for the national anthem during a preseason game last week.

Citing Kaepernick's "inappropriate behavior," the police union in Santa Clara, California, said that the "harmonious working relationship" between officers and the American football team had been threatened, and that they would only police Levi's Stadium if Kaepernick was disciplined.

Breaking taboos

The gesture violated a major US taboo - the repudiation of national symbols, particularly by public figures, is sometimes construed as insulting to soldiers or taken as a personal attack on the country as a whole. While it was common in the 20th century for athletes to use their position in the public eye to make a political protest, such as Muhammad Ali's famous criticism of the Vietnam War, going against the grain has become increasingly disavowed in recent years.

The heated response was somewhat tempered later in the day, however, with Police Chief Michael Sellers telling the press that "as distasteful as his actions are, these actions are protected by the Constitution. Police officers are here to protect the rights of every person, even if we disagree with their position."

Kaepernick's name has been splashed across the headlines since he sat through "The Star-Spangled Banner" during an August 28 exhibition game against the Green Bay Packers.

"I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right," Kaepernick said in the aftermath of his decision. He explained that he didn't "stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," and hoped to launch a national conversation that would promote understanding and tolerance across racial lines.

A history of prejudice

The quarterback is the biological son of a white woman and a black man who was adopted by a white couple as an infant. He has spoken openly about his struggles as a biracial child in the US, including strangers often not believing he belonged with his family.

The backlash against his action was swift and intense - viral videos of fans torching their Kaepernick jerseys, condemnation from other NFL players, and hefty criticism across various media platforms for daring to (even silently) show his disapproval of a country that had made him a millionaire in a matter of years.

Including from his biological mother:

One correspondent for conservative news outlet TheBlaze called him a "whiny attention-seeking crybaby," while former Seattle Seahawks star and current ESPN correspondent Matthew Hasselbeck tweeted "easy way to make sure you're NOT the starting QB on opening day.”

49ers stand by their quarterback

Support for the quarterback has been steady if slightly more muted. The 49ers head coach Chip Kelly said he had "no problem with Kap" and the #VeteransforKaepernick hashtag swept across Twitter this week with soldiers speaking out about his right to protest.

Undeterred, he kneeled through the national anthem at a second preseason game against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday. This time, he was joined by teammate Eric Reid, who said he had spent days preoccupied with how to show solidarity in a meaningful way.

“I think it is very brave of him to continue to stand up for what he believes in," said Reid.

Protesting in a quiet, unflamboyant way has become Kaepernick's trademark. One such act was to wear socks that depict policemen as pigs because "rogue cops … not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger," as he put it on Instagram.

Despite the hubbub, Kaepernick told the press that the team has "gotten closer on a personal level" since his protest began. Many fans seem to have no problem with his stance against the anthem either, as the 49ers have reported sales of his jersey went from 20th in popularity to first over the past two weeks.

The American football star first rose to national fame after he led his team to its last Super Bowl appearance in 2013. Returning from a number of injuries last year, Kaeprenick put in a solid performance in the first half of the 49ers' final preseason game. He has also been confirmed on the final 53-man roster for the 2016 season as the number two quarterback.