Colin Kaepernick's Ex
Eric Reid
When former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to start taking a knee during the national anthem before games last preseason in a sign of protest  one of his biggest supporters was his then-San Francisco teammate Eric Reid. Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem on his own prior to several preseason games before  Reid  and 49ers linebacker Eli Harold eventually joined him.  Reid  and Harold then continued to kneel with Kaepernick during the anthem throughout the entire 2016-17 NFL season. And while  Reid   Harold  and Kaepernick are no longer teammates   Reid  has continued to stick by Kaepernick’s side by attending several of  his  "Know Your Rights" events in cities like New York City and Chicago.  He  has also reportedly maintained a close relationship with Kaepernick even though they aren’t playing for the same team anymore.
But in the weeks leading up to the 2017 NFL preseason   Reid  told reporters that  he  would not continue to protest the national anthem during the upcoming season like  he  did last year. As recently as Aug. 14   he  said that "the anthem thing went so sideways " and while  he  acknowledged that  he  was going to continue to talk about important social issues   he  said that  he  would not kneel during the anthem before games this season. However  it appears as though  he  changed  his  mind  because prior to the 49ers’ preseason game against the Vikings on Sunday night   Reid  was spotted kneeling as a large group of  his  teammates surrounded  him  in a show of support.
And after the game   Reid  revealed why  he  decided to continue  his  national anthem protest in spite of what  he  said earlier this summer.  He  suggested that  his  recent conversations with Kaepernick as well as what happened in Charlottesville  Virginia recently may have played a role in it.
Video: #49ers  Eric Reid  on resuming national anthem protest pic.twitter.com/d3cBS3g8ii — Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 28  2017
 Reid  continued: "Then fast-forward to Charlottesville  and the country sees what an un-American protest really looks like. That’s when I had my change of heart  because what Colin  Eli  and I did was a peaceful protest fueled by faith in God to help make our country a better place. And I feel like I needed to regain control of that narrative and not let people say that what we’re doing is un-American  because it’s not. It’s completely American. We’re doing it because we want equality for everyone. We want our country to be a better place  so that’s why I decided to resume the protest."
 Reid  is the first 49ers player to kneel during the national anthem during the 2017 preseason. In addition to explaining why  he  did it on Sunday night   he  also spoke about how  he  believes  his  protest could potentially hurt  him  next year when  he  becomes a free agent. And  he  said that  he ’s not going to let it affect what  he 's doing.
"This has been fueled by my faith in God "  Reid  said. "That’s the only reason I do it. You can’t serve faith and money. So if I’m not on a team next year  I’ll be at home unhappy that I’m not on a team  but I’ll be satisfied knowing that I did what I believe is right—and that’s being the voice for the voiceless and standing up for the oppressed."
Kaepernick responded to  Reid  kneeling on Sunday night by retweeting the clip above of  him  talking about why  he  did it.
When former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to start taking a knee during the national anthem before games last preseason in a sign of protest  one of his biggest supporters was [TGT]. Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem on his own prior to several preseason games before  [TGT]and 49ers linebacker Eli Harold eventually joined [TGT].  [TGT]and Harold then continued to kneel with Kaepernick during the anthem throughout the entire 2016-17 NFL season. And while  Reid   Harold  and Kaepernick are no longer teammates   [TGT]has continued to stick by Kaepernick’s side by attending several of  [TGT]  "Know Your Rights" events in cities like New York City and Chicago.  He  has also reportedly maintained a close relationship with Kaepernick even though they aren’t playing for the same team anymore.
But in the weeks leading up to the 2017 NFL preseason   [TGT]told reporters that  [TGT]  would not continue to protest the national anthem during the upcoming season like  [TGT]  did last year. As recently as Aug. 14   [TGT]  said that "the anthem thing went so sideways " and while  [TGT]  acknowledged that  [TGT]  was going to continue to talk about important social issues   [TGT]  said that  [TGT]  would not kneel during the anthem before games this season. However  it appears as though  he  changed  his  mind  because prior to the 49ers’ preseason game against the Vikings on Sunday night   [TGT]was spotted kneeling as a large group of  [TGT]  teammates surrounded  [TGT]  in a show of support.
And after the game   [TGT]revealed why  [TGT]  decided to continue  [TGT]  national anthem protest in spite of what  [TGT]  said earlier this summer.  [TGT]  suggested that  [TGT]  recent conversations with Kaepernick as well as what happened in Charlottesville  Virginia recently may have played a role in it.
Video: #49ers  [TGT]  on resuming national anthem protest pic.twitter.com/d3cBS3g8ii — Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 28  2017
 [TGT]continued: "Then fast-forward to Charlottesville  and the country sees what an un-American protest really looks like. That’s when I had my change of heart  because what Colin  Eli  and I did was a peaceful protest fueled by faith in God to help make our country a better place. And I feel like I needed to regain control of that narrative and not let people say that what we’re doing is un-American  because it’s not. It’s completely American. We’re doing it because we want equality for everyone. We want our country to be a better place  so that’s why I decided to resume the protest."
 [TGT]is the first 49ers player to kneel during the national anthem during the 2017 preseason. In addition to explaining why  he  did it on Sunday night   he  also spoke about how  he  believes  his  protest could potentially hurt  him  next year when  he  becomes a free agent. And  he  said that [TGT]he ’s not going to let [TGT] affect what  he 's doing.
"This has been fueled by my faith in God "  Reid  said. "That’s the only reason I do it. You can’t serve faith and money. So if I’m not on a team next year  I’ll be at home unhappy that I’m not on a team  but I’ll be satisfied knowing that I did what I believe is right—and that’s being the voice for the voiceless and standing up for the oppressed."
Kaepernick responded to  Reid  kneeling on Sunday night by retweeting the clip above of  him  talking about why  he  did it.