Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers (Image: Getty)
More than 1,000 supporters of Colin Kaepernick gathered around the steps of the NFL headquarters in New York on Wednesday to express solidarity with the free-agent quarterback, who drew headlines last preseason for protesting the national anthem to make a statement on police brutality against minorities and general racial injustice.
No NFL team has stepped up to sign Kaepernick, 29, since he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March. The NFL fans who crowded the league offices at Wednesday’s rally chanted “Boycott! Boycott!” and “I’m with Kap!” among other things to demand that a team step up to sign the biracial QB, who sat or knelt to protest the playing of the national anthem before several games last season.
Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon was also present at the rally:
Kaepernick — who led the 49ers to a 3-16 record the past two seasons — has also been known for his charitable work in the San Francisco community and in other parts of the country. The Milwaukee native — who was drafted by the 49ers as a second-round pick in 2011 — has bought suits for former convicted felons to help them land job and helped raise funds to fly food and water supply to famine-stricken nations like Somalia, among other humanitarian efforts.
The free agent — who helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season — also recently donated $34,000 to rapper J. Cole’s Dreamville Foundation, which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged urban youth. Details of the specific types of projects these funds will help the organization towards have not yet been released.
According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, this donation — along with the $33,000 donation of men’s suits and a separate donation of $33,000 to the Lower East Side Girls Club in New York City — brings Kaepernick’s charitable giving total to $800,000. The free agent pledged to donate $1 million to community charities last September.
BUFFALO, NY – OCTOBER 16: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to throw against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at New Era Field on October 16, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
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