The San Francisco 49ers' 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills was the least of Colin Kaepernick's problems yesterday (October 16). The quarterback, back in the starting line-up for the first time since starting his kneeling protest against police violence, faced antipathy from some Bills fans.
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Shirts with a rifle scope trained on Colin Kaepernick selling for $10 outside of Ralph Wilson stadium. pic.twitter.com/bSuxF3G5qq
rnt— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) October 16, 2016
Journalist Robert Klemo took pics of the violent t-shirts above, which were sold outside of the Bills' stadium. Klemo also shot video of Bills fans tackling a dummy wearing Kaepernick's jersey and an imitation Afro during a tailgate. In one video, fans scream "Tackle the Muslim!" before someone attacks the dummy.
But not everyone shared their views. Klemo later retweeted photos of an anti-police violence protest outside the stadium:
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As #49ers QB Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the nat'l anthem, pics sent to me of the protest outside t/ stadium #Bills pic.twitter.com/DwobxShfrE
rnt— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 16, 2016
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Kaepernick addressed the reaction in a post-game press conference. He said that despite reports that a Bills fan threw a bottle at him, he "had some Bills fans before the game come up and say they support [him]." He defended his continued protest, saying that "There's people's lives being taken and affected by [police brutality] on a daily basis."
He also commented on the Muhammad Ali shirt he wore before the game:
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He was someone, he fought a very similar fight. We're just trying to do what’s right for the people. For me, to have someone like that come before me, it's huge. He helped pave the way for this to happen, in what he did and what he stood for. People remember him more for that than they do as a boxer. I can't let him die in vain. I have to be able to try to carry that on and fight that same fight until we accomplish our goal.
(H/t The San Jose Mercury News, NBC Sports, Voactiv, ESPN)