The topic of Colin Kaepernick kneeling for the National Anthem has been ignited again with the recent events that have taken place. Akiem Hicks, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, explained why he fearfully stood for the National Anthem in 2016.
“At that time when Kaepernick was taking a knee, I had the same thought that 85, 90% of the league thought at that moment: ‘If I get down on one knee in front of this stadium, I am fired,’” Hicks said, via the Chicago Tribune. “’My job, my career, my life is over. I will be blackballed.’ And then to come out on the other end and watch it actually happen to Kaepernick, it just tells me my feelings were real. It was the reality, and hopefully it won’t be going forward.”
Back in 2016, Kaepernick chose to sit, then kneel during the National Anthem. While kneeling during the anthem, Kaepernick spoke out against police brutality and racial injustices in today's world.
Besides Kaepernick, there were other players who chose to kneel during the National Anthem as well. However, as the Bears defensive tackle stated, there were players like himself who feared they'd lose their jobs if they joined Kaepernick.
Less than a year later, Kaepernick was blackballed from the NFL and remains out of a job to this day. Nevertheless, Adrian Peterson exclaimed that he'll be taking a knee during the National Anthem in 2020. At the same time, it appears that he'll be joined by other players in the NFL.
The last time players peacefully protested by kneeling, it stirred controversy and led to Kaepernick being shunned by the league. But with more players willing to take a knee next season, Hicks hopes it produces better results this time around.
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