Steve Kerr Backs Colin Kaepernick’s Protest: Americans Should Be ‘Disgusted’ With Violence

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has become the latest prominent member of the sports world to support San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for protesting the national anthem by kneeling before games.

Steve Kerr Backs Colin Kaepernick’s Protest

Kerr, who will turn 51 later this month, said he believes similar protests will take place in the NBA this upcoming season, and added he will definitely speak to all his players on how they plan to make a statement during the playing of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ before games.

“It’s probably one of the best things to come out of the Kaepernick issue is that people are talking, and that’s a good thing,” Kerr told reporters on Wednesday, via Anthony Slater of the Bay Area News Group. “No matter what side of the spectrum you’re on, I would hope that every American is disgusted with what is going on around the country, what just happened in Tulsa two days ago with Terence Crutcher.”

Crutcher was a 40-year-old, unarmed black man who was gunned down by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sept. 16. His shooting, along with that of Keith L. Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, have sparked further ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests.

Kaepernick stated he protested the anthem and flag because of the unjust “oppression of black people and people of color.” His protest has been replicated by scores of other athletes since he did it before a preseason game on Aug. 26.

The Warriors, who have a predominantly black roster, play approximately 40 minutes from the 49ers’ home stadium in Santa Clara, California. Before Golden State’s preseason opener on Oct. 1 against the Toronto Raptors in Vancouver, Kerr expects he and his players to be on the same page with regards to how players will react.

“It doesn’t matter what side you’re on on the Kaepernick stuff,” the 2015-16 NBA Coach of the Year said. “You better be disgusted about the things that are happening. I understand people who are offended by his stance. Maybe they have a military family member who is offended. Maybe they lost somebody in a war and that flag or the anthem means a lot more to them than someone else. But then you flip it around, and what about non-violent protests? That’s America. This is what our country is about. It’s a non-violent protest. That’s what it should be about.”

This is not the first time Kerr has weighed in on social issues. This past summer, he said “our government is insane” with regards to gun control. The coach even called out Congress for not expanding background checks to all gun sales following the mass shooting at PULSE nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June.

When Kerr was 18, his 52-year-old father, Malcolm, was murdered in Beirut by terrorists while he served as president of the American University of Beirut after being shot in the back of the head twice by gunmen.

“Everybody has their own thoughts, their own cause of what they think is important,” Kerr said. “When you’re in the limelight, you do have to think, ‘Do I want to say something? Am I right person to say this?’ I felt like I was the right person to talk about gun control because of what happened to my dad.

“I felt strongly about it. I talked about it. I’m sure there was some negative reaction. Again, it’s discourse that’s important.”

On the subject of police brutality against African-Americans, Kerr added: “Unarmed black people are being killed indiscriminately around the country. And that’s what happened two days ago. That’s the message. That’s what matters. The other stuff you can talk about all day. Nobody is right. Nobody is wrong.

“But that matters. Everyone should be trying to do something, whatever is in their power, to help in that regard.”

Several Warriors players have voiced their views on Kaepernick’s protest. Guard Stephen Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, recently told CNBC that he supports the quarterback’s move. Forward Kevin Durant told reporters last week in Austin, Texas that he was “behind anyone who stands up for what they believe in.”

Kerr emphasized that he wants his and his team’s message on injustice to be “clear.”

OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 18: Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr gives directions in the first quarter in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 18, 2016 in Oakland, California.