GLENDALE, Ariz. – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick defended his decision to abstain from voting during the presidential general election last week.
“I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote,” Kaepernick said Sunday, following the 49ers’ 23-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
“I’d said from the beginning I was against oppression, I was against a system of oppression. I’m not going to show support for that system. And, to me, the oppressor isn’t going to allow you to vote your way out of your oppression.”
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Kaepernick was asked if he felt more urgency toward his cause with Donald Trump winning the necessary electoral votes to be the next U.S. president.
“I think everybody should feel urgency to make sure that we’re doing the right thing, building things the right way in order to be able to protect ourselves from what comes in front of us,” Kaepernick said.
Kaepernick, Eric Reid and Eli Harold again took a knee during the national anthem in their protest against racial inequality. No other 49ers players raised a fist or outwardly joined the protest.
After the game, Kaepernick wore a T-shirt that attributed the following quote to Malcolm X: “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”