Colin Kaepernick says he has no regrets ten years after anthem protest

Former NFL star Colin Kaepernick has stated that he has no regrets about taking a knee during the US national anthem, ten years after he first made the gesture. Speaking to BBC Sport in his first interview with the outlet since the protest began, he insisted that he would do it again despite the heavy personal cost. [1][2]

Kaepernick began his peaceful protest against racial injustice and police brutality before an NFL match in September 2016. According to the BBC, he believes that being a figurehead for the civil rights movement ultimately led to his exile from professional football. [1]

In the interview, Kaepernick reflected on athlete activism, the relationship between sport and politics, and his pride at seeing England footballers adopt the gesture. Protests involving athletes kneeling during the anthem first began in August 2016 to highlight systemic racism in the United States. [1][3]

The gesture of taking a knee drew widespread attention and generated heavy backlash, with critics accusing participating athletes of being unpatriotic. Additional protests took place in 2017 following public criticisms from Donald Trump during his first presidential term. [3]