The Super Bowl has arrived, and with it the appearance of #ImWithKap on your Twitter feed. The hashtag is a reference to Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL star who took a knee during the National Anthem to protest racial inequality and police violence. Several prominent celebrities have tweeted #ImWithKap to offer their support of Kaepernick (who's been reportedly blackballed by the NFL), including Ava DuVernay, who wrote that she will “not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players." Her tweet, and other messages of support from celebs, below: This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs — Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 2019 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. “I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept” Dr. Angela Davis. #ImWithKap https://t.co/FobilXc7J0 — COMMON (@common) February 3, 2019 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. #ImWithKap #7Challenge! I am donating $7 to Colin’s Know Your Rights Camp. The number 7 symbolizes Kap’s jersey number. I challenge you to donate $7 to @YourRightsCamp and nominate 7 others to do the same. Go to https://t.co/Bonrfn2Jf2 and click donate. @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/upSma6Hcxs — Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) February 3, 2019 This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. #ImWithKap and have been all season . And the below are just a few reasons why . @ava said it best ! Thank you . Cc: @Kaepernick7 ✊🏾 https://t.co/1MPPUfdiH1 — Janelle Monáe, Cindi Mayweather👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) February 3, 2019 This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This list will be updated with more celebs boycotting the Super Bowl, so stay tuned. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Mehera Bonner Mehera Bonner is a news writer who focuses on celebrities and royals. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Ava DuVernay was among the first celebrities to announce Sunday that she will boycott Super Bowl 53 to protest what she described as the NFL's "racist treatment" of Colin Kaepernick. DuVernay explained in a tweet that she was not watching the event because of the NFL's "ongoing disregard for the health" and well-being of its players. "To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs," she said. "It’s not worth it." The film director ended her statement with the hashtag #ImWithKap, which was also used in tweets by Nick Cannon and rapper Common. Cannon tweeted that he was donating $7 to the Know Your Rights Camp, a free campaign for youth funded by Kaepernick, and urged his followers to do the same. Common meanwhile tweeted an image of himself and activist Angela Davis wearing a jersey with Kaepernick's number seven. "We are never assured of justice without a fight," he tweeted, quoting Davis. NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant were also photographed wearing Kaepernick jerseys this weekend. Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, sparked debate in the league and across America in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Kaepernick has accused the league’s owners of colluding to keep him off the field because of the player protests during the "Star Spangled Banner."<doc-sep>Ava DuVerney is boycotting the Super Bowl. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca film Festival) High-profile figures are announcing their intentions to sit out this Super Bowl Sunday. Following Cardi B’s refusal to perform during the halftime show alongside Maroon 5 — though she will star in a Super Bowl commercial for Pepsi — director Ava DuVernay has announced via Twitter that she’s tuning out. “To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs,” the Selma filmmaker said, adding the #ImWithKap hashtag to indicate her support of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. DuVernay also accused the NFL of subjecting Kaepernick — who has been without a team over outcry of his taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality against people of color — to “racist treatment.” I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs — Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 2019 DuVernay’s protest comes weeks after Common voiced similar support for Kaepernick, saying the NFL “basically blackballed” the athlete. The Oscar winner is also sharing the #ImWithKap hashtag, with LeBron James, Angela David, Nick Cannon and Rosanna Arquette among those showing support. "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time." Dr. Angela Davis. Much Love to @Kaepernick7! pic.twitter.com/YL20cowSz9 — Imagine Justice (@ImaginexJustice) February 3, 2019 Me too — Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) February 3, 2019 #ImWithKap #7Challenge! I am donating $7 to Colin’s Know Your Rights Camp. The number 7 symbolizes Kap’s jersey number. I challenge you to donate $7 to @YourRightsCamp and nominate 7 others to do the same. Go to https://t.co/Bonrfn2Jf2 and click donate. @Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/upSma6Hcxs — Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) February 3, 2019 We will not be supporting the #SuperBowl due to the NFL's racist treatment of Colin Kaepernick. A new report shows that the NFL polled fans to see if Kaepernick being on a team would hurt the brand: https://t.co/OQnHDMmdMi #TakeAKnee #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/zE2j8heXjU — The Root (@TheRoot) February 3, 2019 And what’s Super Bowl Sunday without the Super Bowl? For some, it’s Janet Jackson Appreciation Day, a nod to the pop star who was famously excoriated after her “wardrobe malfunction” — unfairly, many say — during the 2004 halftime show. Story continues Super Bowl, what's that? I rather celebrate #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay Queen finally got in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after years of haters trying to deny her effortless impact! pic.twitter.com/rKQkMNIPru — Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) February 3, 2019 Meanwhile, Maroon 5 band member PJ Morton spoke to People about fending off criticism for headlining this year’s halftime show. “I think there are plenty of people — a lot of the players, to be honest — who support Kap and also do their job for the NFL,” Morton said. “I think we’re doing the same thing. We can support being against police brutality against black and brown people and be in support of being able to peacefully protest and still do our jobs. We just want to have a good time and entertain people while understanding the important issues that are at hand. “You can get bogged down by those things; we’re not focusing on the negative now [while] being aware, being open and definitely not ignoring the voices,” he added. “But we’re definitely not focusing on the things that don’t help, that are counterproductive. We’re blocking out the noise. We’re just doing what we do. We look to have a good time.” Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:<doc-sep>Ex-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (No. 7) has remained unsigned since the 2016 season, when he began protesting inequality and racist police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem The hashtag #ImWithKap will be trending throughout Super Bowl Sunday as part of a social media awareness campaign to raise money for free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp. Comedian Nick Cannon, rapper Common, film director Ava Duvernay and many other celebrities posted Tweets with the hashtag, pledging to donate $7 to the youth camp while challenging seven others to do the same. Kaepernick also posted a picture of himself alongside singer/activist Harry Belafonte, who was wearing an '#ImWithKap' shirt as well. Some, like DuVernay, went further, saying they would boycott Super Bowl LIII entirely to protest the league's treatment of Kaeperenick, who has remained unsigned since the 2016 season, when he began protesting inequality and racist police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem. Colin Kaepernick also posted a picture of himself alongside singer/activist Harry Belafonte According to its website, the Know Your Rights Camp is 'a free campaign for youth founded by Colin Kaepernick to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios.' The organization plans events with children and teenagers across the country Kevin Durant (left) and LeBron James both wore the No 7 limited edition jerseys Several NBA players have also weighed in recently. LeBron James and Kevin Durant both offered their support for Colin Kaepernick by wearing his limited edition #ImWithKap jerseys on Saturday, as did Chamillionaire, who was seen wearing his courtside at the Lakers-Warriors game in Oakland Some, like director Ava DuVernay and actress Jodie Turner-Smith, went so far as to say they would boycott Super Bowl LIII entirely to protest the league's treatment of Kaeperenick 'I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL's racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players,' DuVernay tweeted. 'To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It's not worth it. #ImWithKap.' Actress Jodie Turner-Smith responded with, 'SAME. #ImWithKap.' According to its website, the Know Your Rights Camp is 'a free campaign for youth founded by Colin Kaepernick to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios.' The organization plans events with children and teenagers across the country. Several NBA players have also weighed in recently. LeBron James and Kevin Durant both offered their support for Colin Kaepernick by wearing his limited edition #ImWithKap jerseys on Saturday, as did Chamillionaire, who was seen wearing his courtside at the Lakers-Warriors game in Oakland. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown arrived at Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with the same jersey as well. Kaepernick became one of the faces of the modern civil rights movement in 2016 when he began the protests as a reaction to a series of killings of African-American men, many of whom were killed by police. Other players followed, sitting, taking a knee, or raising a fist during the anthem over the objections of many fans, owners, and, beginning during the 2017 season, President Donald Trump. Also in 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league, accusing all 32 owners of colluding against him in retaliation for the demonstrations. The NFL reportedly used a Washington consulting firm to ask Americans if controversial free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick should be signed by one of the league's 32 teams. According to Yahoo Sports, the 2017 poll was conducted by The Glove Park Group, which was co-founded by former NFL communications chief Joe Lockhart. Kaepernick was the only player singled out by the poll, which also included general questions about fans' responses to domestic violence, gambling, player protests and player safety, according to Yahoo Sports. The results were reportedly dispersed to several high-ranking league officials, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Neither the Grover Park Group nor the NFL responded immediately to the Daily Mail's requests for comment. Specifically, the research was aimed at ascertaining whether Americans believed Kaepernick should be in the NFL, and whether or not Americans felt that he was being blackballed for his refusal to stand for the national anthem. The polling also attempted to illustrate fan opinions on the potential punishment for players who knelt in protest during the anthem. The data was reportedly split among several demographics, including race, political affiliation, and age. According to Yahoo, results were split along racial, political, and generational lines, with whites and Republicans heavily favouring disciplinary action against protesting players. The polling data was compiled in the summer of 2017, before Goodell sent a memo to teams in October of that year stating that the 'current dispute over the National Anthem is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game.' 'Like many of our fans,' read the memo, 'we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem.' The NFL did not institute any rule requiring players to stand for the anthem during the 2017 season, which resulted in further criticism from President Donald Trump. In May, the NFL and Goodell changed course and announced a new policy: Players would no longer be required to be on the field during the anthem – a rule that began in 2009 – but anyone on the field of play would be required to stand. Teams could be fined for any personnel not standing, and they would have the right to fine players individually. However, the league changed course in July and decided to negotiate a resolution with the players association. No final decision has been announced. In speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl in Atlanta, Goodell suggested that teams made the decision to pass on Kaepernick individually, dismissing the notion of any collusion. Kaepernick has continued appearing in Nike ads, highlighting his political stance. However, An apparel company's commercial that appears to be directly criticizing Nike's Kaepernick campaign was allegedly rejected by CBS for its Super Bowl Sunday broadcast.<doc-sep>
Celebrities and activists in the United State and beyond are taking to social media and using their platforms to tell the world they will not be watching Super Bowl 53 where the Los Angeles Rams are taking on the New England Patriots in Atlanta. Hollywood director Ava DuVernay is one of the louder voices in the #ImWithKap campaign beginning to trend across the country. Activist Angela Davis as well as NBA stars like Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant and LeBron James have also taken to Twitter in support for quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who remains unsigned by any NFL team. Kaepernick has used his profile to highlight racial injustice in the US since 2016 when he took a knee during the national anthem and inspired protests across the NFL with several players doing the same. Kaepernick has alleged that NFL owners and commissioner Roger Goodell have colluded to keep him unsigned and out of the league despite being healthy and still able to play the game at a high level. The protests aimed at calling out inequality for people of color in the United States have drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, who has slammed the players for their protests and derided the league and it’s owners for allowing the players to protest prior to NFL games. Here’s a look at what celebrities and others around the country are saying about the #ImWithKap campaign: I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs — Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 2019 #ImWithKap is trending in USA. Because some things are more important than a game. pic.twitter.com/0tOsGdOM1z — Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) February 3, 2019 LeBron James and Kevin Durant wear No 7 #ImWithKap jerseys in support of Colin Kaepernick on #SuperBowl weekend https://t.co/h0ELTnLP9t pic.twitter.com/j4oGoJeDn9 — MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) February 3, 2019 "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time." Dr. Angela Davis. Much Love to @Kaepernick7! pic.twitter.com/YL20cowSz9 — Imagine Justice (@ImaginexJustice) February 3, 2019 "We are never assured of justice without a fight" Dr. Angela Davis. #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/DuhfELZrpz — COMMON (@common) February 3, 2019 Whatever you are doing today (or not doing today #ImWithKap) we can all agree on the fact that kids should have winter coats. If you can RT or support. 👇🏿 https://t.co/OKserJLFV5 — W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) February 3, 2019