Debate regarding Colin Kaepernick and his national anthem protests have not necesarily died down. Despite the fact that he didn’t suit up for a single game last season, the free agent quarterback remains the center of controversy around the NFL.
Obviously, a lot of that has to do with the ongoing collusion case he has filed against the NFL and its teams. Though, Kaepernick himself remains a central figure in large part due to the community work he continues to do around the United States.
No matter our stance on Kaepernick’s politics, he should be given some level of respect for said work and for his fight for equality in the United States.
Apparently, Amnesty International agrees. The group honored Kaepernick Saturday in the Netherlands with its Ambassador of Conscience Award.
“The Ambassador of Conscience award celebrates the spirit of activism and exceptional courage, as embodied by Colin Kaepernick. He is an athlete who is now widely recognized for his activism because of his refusal to ignore or accept racial discrimination,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International, via its official website.
Sometimes standing up for justice is kneeling against injustice @amnesty @amnestynl @nfl @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/L5QQNqoQyI
— Amnesty Centre for International Justice (@AmnestyCIJ) April 21, 2018
A throwback in the sense that he uses stardom as a platform to help exact change, Kaepernick has been compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali of yesteryear.
Obviously, Amnesty International is recognizing that right now.