NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has recently made headlines for actions taken off of the gridiron.

During the national anthem of a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick intentionally sat as the rest of his team stood. It was an action he had taken in a previous preseason game, but it was the first time it gained attention. According to ESPN, after the game Kaepernick explained his actions and said,”I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

His stance, or lack-thereof, has garnered mixed reactions from football fans and non-football fans alike.

He has drawn criticism, including from his former coach, Jim Harbaugh, who took to Twitter to express his view and said, “I support Colin’s motivation. It’s his method of action that I take exception to.”

But along with criticism, he has drawn support.

Senior Hifza Sarwat said she supports his actions, “I don’t see anything wrong with his actions because all he did was silently and peacefully protest oppression of black people and people of color.” Fellow senior Zainab Gafari said she agrees and believes that, “Colin Kaepernick is doing it for the right kind of attention. He is taking a stand on what he believes is wrong and he has the right to do so.”

“I think this country is founded on protest. I think the status quo always needs to be a little shaken,” said English and Capstone teacher Mr. Troy Bradbury, “It’s no different than the American Revolution, no different from us putting our fists up to the King and saying ‘no, we’re not going to do this.'”

Sarwat, Zainab, and Mr. Bradbury said they believe Kaepernick is helping progress the race conversation in America.

“I think that he’s helping the movement, not any particular movement, but the movement of creating more awareness, of creating dialogue, even if it’s hate speech it’s dialogue, to some degree,” said Mr. Bradbury. “When you push people out of their comfort zones, which he obviously has done, it creates conversations and that’s the only way we’re going to be able to move from point A to point B.”

“I definitely think he’s helping the race conversation in America because he’s speaking out,” said Sarwat. Zainab agreed, and said, “so many people want to hide [the race conversation] and he is using his platform to get everyone talking about it.”

Mr. Bradbury, when asked if his father having been a Marine impacted his reaction to the situation he responded, “I believe in the values of this country but I also question the values and I’m skeptical about the motivation of this country and the things that it does to people, and my father was the same way. He believed in the right of people to stand up and say ‘no.'”

Kaepernick sat during the singing of the national anthem for all 3 preseason games. When asked in an interview if he would continue to sit, he replied, “Yes, I’ll continue to sit. I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed…”