San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick responded to critics on Thursday after it was revealed that he wore socks during practice with images that were deemed disrespectful to police officers.
According to ABC News, pictures emerged this week of Kaepernick wearing black socks with cartoon pigs wearing police hats during practice on Aug. 10. The word "pig" is a derogatory term for police officers. The NFL won’t have a response to this situation until it consults with the 49ers. Bill Johnson, the executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, ripped Kaepernick for wearing the socks saying they were disrespectful.
"It’s just ridiculous that the same league that prohibits the Dallas (Cowboys) football club from honoring the slain officers in their community with their uniforms stands silent when Kaepernick is dishonoring police officers with what he’s wearing on the field," Johnson told USA Today. “It doesn’t seem like he’s thought through or bothered to educate himself about the way (law enforcement officers) are out there trying to do a very difficult job, and the vast majority of the time get the job done right,"
Johnson also said that he thinks the NFL is in a downward spiral with their obligations to the public.
Kaepernick explained why he wore those socks in an Instagram post writing, "I wore those socks, in the past, because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust. So before those socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately."
As we previously reported, Kaepernick has refused to stand during the national anthem before the 49ers preseason games because of racial oppression and police brutality.