Obama Defends Kaepernick

President Obama defended Colin Kaepernick while answering questions from the press at the G20 summit meeting in Hangzhou, saying that the quarterback was “exercising his constitutional right.”

Kaepernick, who has created a firestorm of debate over his criticism of the national anthem, has said that he will continue his protest of sitting out the anthem at the start of games indefinitely. This weekend, 49ers coach Chip Kelly announced that Kaepernick would be the team’s backup quarterback.

“I don’t doubt his sincerity,” Obama said of Kaepernick, before going on to say generating conversation on the topic was positive.

The conversation Kapernick has generated — about race, patriotism, sports protest and violence by and against police — has not been received positively by all Americans.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said one week ago that “maybe [Kaepernick] should find a country that works better for him” and angry fans have posted videos of themselves burning Kaepernick jerseys and other memorabilia on social media. (Read more from “Obama Defends Kaepernick” HERE)

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