49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is trying to win back his starting job. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) 
 
 Now is not the time to demonize Colin Kaepernick. 
 
 Instead, this is an opportunity to listen to his heart. 
 
 The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has taken a stand by refusing to stand for the national anthem, a not-so-subtle admonishment of the country amid his courageous social statement protesting perceived injustices of police brutality that have touched so many African-Americans and other minorities. 
 
 “I’ll continue to sit,” Kaepernick, 28, told reporters in the locker room Sunday, two days after his demonstration exploded as another case of sports transcending society. 
 
 “I’ll continue to stand with the people who are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change, and when there’s significant change — and I feel like that flag represents what It’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way it’s supposed to — I’ll stand.” 
 
 More power to him. 
 
 After sitting on the bench as the anthem was played before a Friday night exhibition against the Green Bay Packers (Kaepernick sat out The Star Stangled Banner in the Niners' two previous preseason games, too, when he wasn't in uniform) told NFL Network's Steve Wyche that he refused to “show pride in the flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” 
 
 Referring to recent slayings of African-Americans by police that have sparked racial tensions, protests and other forms of backlash across the nation, which has historically tilted the scales of the criminal justice system so unfavorably against minorities, Kaepernick lamented that it would be selfish not to protest. 
 
 "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” he said. 
 
 In the face of intense criticism, including some fans who have responded by burning his jersey, Kaepernick doubled down Sunday after a meeting in which the issue was discussed with teammates — and most supported his First Amendment right to express himself. 
 
 The embattled quarterback calmly spoke for roughly 20 minutes afterward, hardly afraid to face the heat or dodge the opportunity to explain himself in further detail. He maintained that he wanted to bring awareness to an issue. Mission accomplished. 
 
 “This country stands for liberty, freedom, justice for all,” he said. “And it’s not happening for all right now.” 
 
 Agree with his methods or not, Kaepernick is a fresh example showing that the Constitution applies to all Americans — including those in football uniforms. The way I see it, Kaepernick just earned a lot of street cred for at least standing up for something that he’s obviously passionate about — knowing full well there could be a political price to pay. 
 
 Somewhere, Muhammad Ali is smiling. 
 
 “I have to stand up for people that are oppressed,” Kaepernick told Wyche. “If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.” 
 
 There’s no NFL policy mandating players to stand up during the anthem. In a text message, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said “players are encouraged to stand but not required.” 
 
 Niners coach Chip Kelly isn’t slamming Kaepernick, either, maintaining: “We recognize his right to express his feelings.” 
 
 There are many societal issues and causes that any of us can choose to protest, yet Kaepernick has chosen to focus on police brutality. This is consistent with disgust he expressed in early July when police in Baton Rouge shot Alton Sterling to death after he was thrown to the ground by two officers. On social media, Kaepernick wrote, “This is what lynchings look like in 2016!” 
 
 It’s striking that Kaepernick, who played his first game in 292 days Friday even as numerous injuries have left him little chance of winning the starting job, is suddenly evoking the spirit of John Carlos and Tommie Smith, U.S. track athletes who protested conditions of African-Americans on the grand stage of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City by raising black-gloved fists during the anthem. 
 
 Not popular. 
 
 The people so willing to dump on Kaepernick for making his expression public are conveniently denying him the respect that he deserves to do just that. America isn’t perfect. And many have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the country's ideals. 
 
 Kaepernick insists his actions are not meant to disrespect the military. Instead, he believes, “People are dying in vain because this country is not holding up their end of the bargain up, as far as giving liberty, freedom and justice to everybody.” 
 
 American values. Like equality. Like the right to call ourselves out. 
 
 Kaepernick has reminded us of that. 
 
 *** 
 
 Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell 
 
 PHOTOS: NFL preseason action ||||| SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States. 
 
 His latest refusal to stand for the anthem -- he has done this in at least one other preseason game -- came before the 49ers' preseason loss to Green Bay at Levi's Stadium on Friday night. 
 
 "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." 
 
 The 49ers issued a statement about Kaepernick's decision: "The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem." 
 
 Niners coach Chip Kelly told reporters Saturday that Kaepernick's decision not to stand during the national anthem is "his right as a citizen" and said "it's not my right to tell him not to do something." 
 
 The NFL also released a statement, obtained by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport: "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem." 
 
 By taking a stand for civil rights, Kaepernick, 28, joins other athletes, like the NBA's Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and several WNBA players in using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S. 
 
 However, refusal to support the American flag as a means to take a stand has brought incredible backlash before and likely will in this instance. The NBA's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets, formerly Chris Jackson before converting to Islam, refused to acknowledge the flag in protest, citing similar reasons as Kaepernick and saying that it conflicted with some of his Islamic beliefs. 
 
 Abdul-Rauf drew the ire of fans and was briefly suspended by the NBA before a compromise was worked out between the league and player, who eventually stood with his teammates and coaches at the playing of the national anthem. 
 
 Kaepernick said that he is aware of what he is doing and that he knows it will not sit well with a lot of people, including the 49ers. He said that he did not inform the club or anyone affiliated with the team of his intentions to protest the national anthem. 
 
 "This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he said. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right." 
 
 Kaepernick said that he has thought about going public with his feelings for a while but that "I felt that I needed to understand the situation better." 
 
 He said that he has discussed his feelings with his family and, after months of witnessing some of the civil unrest in the U.S., decided to be more active and involved in rights for black people. Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents and siblings. 
 
 Kaepernick's Twitter feed is filled with civil rights messages. 
 
 The former Super Bowl starting quarterback's decision to go public comes while he is fighting for his football life with the 49ers, who drafted him in the second round in 2011. He lost his starting job last season after being one of the most promising players in the NFL during his run under former coach Jim Harbaugh. 
 
 Over the past few months, his relationship with management has turned sour. He requested a trade last spring, which never came. He also has spent most of the offseason rehabilitating from operations to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, his hand and knee. His recovery left him unable to fully compete with Blaine Gabbert for months and has him seemingly in a bind to regain his starting job. 
 
 He made his preseason debut against the Packers and played in the second quarter, completing two of six passes for 14 yards. He looked as rusty as you'd expect from someone who has not played since last November. 
 
 Following the game, and without any knowledge of Kaepernick's non-football behavior, coach Chip Kelly said that there has never been any discussion about cutting Kaepernick. Rapoport added Saturday that Kelly will make "football decisions" on Kaepernick, despite the quarterback's comments.
– Colin Kaepernick may have made himself America's least popular football player with his refusal to stand for the national anthem, but he isn't backing down, ESPN reports. The San Francisco 49er told reporters Sunday that he won't stand for the anthem until America stops oppressing black people. "When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand," said the quarterback, who cited recent police killings of black men and his own experiences of prejudice and oppression. He stressed, however, that he has nothing against the military. Asked if he thought he might be cut from the team, Kaepernick said, "I don't know. But if I do, I know I did what's right. And I can live with that at the end of the day." The San Francisco Chronicle spoke to his teammates and found that while some of them are offended by his stance, they respect his right to voice an opinion. "I think everyone has a right to stand up for what they believe in. I respect that, first and foremost, whether I agree with what he did and the way he did it, that's not for me," says wide receiver Torrey Smith. "He has that right. [Soldiers] will die for his right to do exactly what he did." (Some former fans are burning Kaepernick jerseys.)