#VeteransForKaepernick Exploded On Twitter Tuesday Night
Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem has taken over the news cycle. It seems almost everyone has weighed in on the issue except one, extremely important group: American veterans. That changed Tuesday night the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick was trending worldwide on Twitter, with thousands of vets supporting the San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s right to choose to stand or sit during the national anthem.
Vets of all races voiced their support for Kaepernick and called on Americans to understand that they fought for his rights to free speech and to protest. Here is a sampling of the tweets:
In America, you have the right to protest. Even at the national anthem. I joined the military to protect that freedom #VeteransForKaepernick
— Vee Jay, JD (@veejangl) August 31, 2016
My husband just returned from 8 mos deployment defending @Kaepernick7's freedom of speech. #veteransforkaepernick pic.twitter.com/r4cAmTAAWj
— Rebecca Gelinas (@wanderlust5) August 31, 2016
@Kaepernick7 I served 25yrs in the AF to protect everyone's 1st Amend rights. I support you #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/Q7r7PfvryA
— Nicki Jai (@dcmbrdiva) August 31, 2016
#VeteransForKaepernick because I didn't volunteer to defend a country where police brutality is swept under the rug. pic.twitter.com/LtBkTvHHAn
— Baltic Avenue (@Baltic_Avenue) August 31, 2016
We don't choose which parts of the Constitution to defend or whom we want it to apply to. #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/88zr8m4oLP
— Uncle Relly (@relltaylor) August 31, 2016
Sums it up perfectly I think. #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/0eV2hcWdFf
— Ata Dizdar (@ata_dizdar) August 31, 2016
And as a veteran, let me be absolutely clear: I support Colin Kaepernick's cause AND his "method". Wholeheartedly.#VeteransForKaepernick
— Charlotte Clymer ?️? (@cmclymer) August 31, 2016
Don't use my service--or that of any veteran--to justify the silencing of black Americans. Not on my watch. #VeteransForKaepernick
— Charlotte Clymer ?️? (@cmclymer) August 31, 2016
if you haven't served, don't speak on my behalf #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/30AtfIvaRI
— Ashtray, Bitch! (@mightyrectum) August 31, 2016
United States Air Force Veteran and a Gold Star family member. I also support #Kaepernick! #VeteransForKaepernick
— Black Intifada (@IntifadaBlack) August 30, 2016
I serve to protect your freedoms, not a song #VeteransForKaepernick
— Jeffrey Crossman (@JCrossman1) August 31, 2016
The Nat'l Anthem was no where in my Oath but supporting & defending the Constitution was.... #VeteransforKaepernick
— Martie Simmons (@msimmons444) August 30, 2016
Whether you agree with Kaepernick or not is beside the point, #VeteransForKaepernick was a reminder that even in our armed forces there is a diversity of opinion and thought. The people who defend us aren’t all just like-minded drones. They can understand nuance and realize that maybe Kaepernick’s protest of the national anthem is not a shot at the military (he’s said it isn’t and that he has family that has served) but instead a way to raise awareness of systemic issues in our country.
Scrolling through those tweets above is enlightening. The people who defend us defend all of our freedoms, including the most basic: freedom of speech.