Harvard University's prestigious student newspaper is backing the refusal by San Francisco 49ers star Colin Kaepernick to stand during the playing of the national anthem in a bid to call attention to police brutality and systemic racism.
In an editorial titled "A Knee-Jerk Reaction," The Harvard Crimson writes, "Americans should look beyond how Kaepernick chose to protest and focus on why he did so."
The Ivy League school publication adds that "ironically, the negative reactions to the quarterback's protest provided "some of the best evidence that the concerns he raised are indeed pressing."
"One news outlet had trouble finding anti-Kaepernick tweets that did not include derogatory language, and a viral denunciation of Kaepernick managed to imply that he was a hypocritical black nationalist who blamed all white people for all social ills, and who only resorted to political statements for personal attention," The Crimson says.
"If Kaepernick intends to raise awareness of issues of racism that are deeply ingrained in American life, we should expend less energy debating whether or not his mode of peaceful protest was appropriate, and more on solving the problems he has rightfully brought to the fore.
"Issues of police brutality, systemic racism, and oppression towards people of color are sadly not new, but so long as they persist they deserve continued attention."
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