Despite taking the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012, Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick is perhaps best known for his recent choice to kneel during the national anthem before games as a show of protest. Yesterday, when Kaepernick and the 49ers went to Buffalo to face the Bills, fans took to the parking lot to sell T-shirts with anti-Kaepernick messages, including one that had him in the crosshairs of a gun with the phrase “Wanted. Notorious Disgrace to America,” and another that said, “Shut up and stand up.”
Shirts with a rifle scope trained on Colin Kaepernick selling for $10 outside of Ralph Wilson stadium. pic.twitter.com/bSuxF3G5qq
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) October 16, 2016
Kaepernick was aware of the fans’ reactions, including an incident involving a fan throwing a bottle at him. He added that, despite the negativity in the parking lot, he heard from people who agree with his cause.
“I had some Bills fans come up before the game to say they support me, so I think it all depends on who the person is,” Kaepernick told NBC Sports. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to continue to fight for what I’m fighting for.”
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In response to the T-shirt with the crosshairs, Kaepernick said that the threat of violence toward him isn’t common.
“…Those are rare occurrences now,” he told NBC Sports. “I think, for the most part, people are realizing the impact and what is going on. Like I said from the beginning, I knew the consequences of what could come from this and I was prepared for that.”
