Colin Kaepernick’s police socks have added to the controversy surrounding the San Francisco 49ers quarterback. On Friday, Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem before the start of a preseason football game. Following the public outrage against Kaepernick and his decision to sit during the national anthem, Kaepernick was spotted wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs which have been taken as a sign that Kaepernick has extended his protest against the current cultural divide in the United States to include police officers now.
The @Kaepernick7 clown show continues..Police pig socks? Really?!? Shame on the @NFL for encouraging this buffoonery https://t.co/5PKn3gX3HS
— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) September 2, 2016
As a result of Kaepernick’s choice of socks, NBC Bay Area is reporting that the Santa Clara police union is considering no longer providing security for the home games of the San Francisco 49ers.
To avoid officers not providing security for the 49ers, the Santa Clara Police Union wants the 49ers to take action against Colin Kaepernick’s police stance or “it could result in police officers choosing not to work at your facilities.”
During the San Francisco 49ers home games, members of the Santa Clara Police Department volunteer to work at Levi’s Stadium to make up the security team. These police officers are paid for their work. Currently, it is unknown if many of these officers will be missing from the next game at Levi’s Stadium on September 12. Frank Saunders, president of the Santa Clara Police Officers Association is already being told that due to being insulted by Kaepernick that some of the officers will be boycotting the game.
“I’m already hearing it this week that next week on Monday Night Football, some officers are not going to work. The 49ers are allowing this to come out from an employee and it’s making for a hostile work environment for us at the stadium.”
Santa Clara police officers are not the only ones who are hired to work security for the 49ers. Approximately 33 percent of the police officers that work security are police officers from other departments from surrounding cities. It is being speculated that if the Santa Clara police officers follow through on their boycott that more officers from the surrounding area will be hired to take their place. This would cure the security issue but may cause legal problems for the city and police officers since the 49ers have a contract with the Santa Clara Police Department to provide the security.
Now that a real threat of a boycott exists over Colin Kaepernick’s actions, Santa Clara Police Department Chief, Michael Sellers, has released a statement.
“The safety of our community is our highest priority. I will urge the POA leadership to put the safety of our citizens first. I will work with both sides to find a solution. In the meantime, I will ensure we continue to provide a safe environment at Levi’s Stadium.”
. @greggutfeld : “[ @Kaepernick7 ] is a naive young man with his first big crush on the romance of radicalism.” #TheFive pic.twitter.com/k9AwtZ8Lrp
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 2, 2016
The San Francisco 49ers have whittled down their roster. Colin Kaepernick has made the team but will be riding the bench as the second string quarterback. It has not been denied or confirmed as to whether Kaepernick’s recent actions were the deciding factor on him being the starting quarterback or not.
Good news for #ColinKaepernick ! Now he can sit for the whole game and not just the Anthem since he was benched. Ouch pic.twitter.com/rhhR3mfI5D
— Joe DiBella (@josephmdibella) September 4, 2016
Do you think Colin Kaepernick’s police socks are enough of a reason for police officers to boycott working security at Levi’s Stadium? Should the San Francisco 49ers, or the NFL, taken some type of action against Kaepernick?
[Photo by Chris Carlson/AP Photo]