Tag Archives: opened-the-espy

LeBron James will be standing for the national anthem when the 2016-2017 NBA season kicks off this fall. But he's also standing up for Colin Kaepernick right here and now. Asked at a press conference on Monday for his take on Kaepernick, who continues to make headlines for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of social injustice, James said the following: Me standing for the national anthem is something I will do. That's who I am. That's what I believe in.” HOWEVER… “That doesn't mean I don't respect and don't believe in what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion, and he's doing it in the most peaceful way I've ever seen someone do something.” James also believes in the same cause as Kaepernick. Along with three other NBA superstars, he opened the ESPY Awards in July with a speech against gun violence and racial tension in America. “My personal feelings is that I got a 12-year-old son, a 9-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, and I look at my son being four years removed from driving his own car and being able to leave the house on his own, and it's a scary thought right now to think if my son gets pulled over,” James said. “You tell your kids if you just apply [the lessons you teach them] and if you just listen to the police that they will be respectful and it will work itself out. And you see these videos that continue to come out, and it's a scary-ass situation that if my son calls me and says that he's been pulled over that I'm not that confident that things are going to go well and my son is going to return home.  “And my son just started the sixth grade.” While LeBron says he won't be following Kaepernick's exact actions, he still showed support for the quarterback. And he takes issue with anyone who does not. “What I do not like about the situation is the negative attention that has been thrown upon him by some people because it's not deserved,” James said. “He was very educated, very smart, very candid and very demanding about what he wanted to do, and he didn't ask anyone else to join him. And he did it in the most peaceful manner I've ever seen anyone stand up and do something. So I can respect that. “And the things that I do personally, when I'm knowledgeable about it and I'm passionate about it, I'll do that as well and let you guys know when those things are because I'll tell you.” Watch snippets from LeBron's comments on the topic below:

Link:
LeBron James Expresses Support for Colin Kaepernick