 SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem in each of the team's three preseason games and said he plans to continue to do so until he sees real change when it comes to racial oppression in the United States. Kaepernick’s stance inspired a team meeting this morning in which Kaepernick and team leaders spoke. He cited conversations with other players and influential people, such as Dr. Harry Edwards, as taking place in the time before taking action. There are things that have gone on in this country for years and years and have never been addressed, and they need to be." So what is this country really standing for?" I respect that, first and foremost, whether I agree with what he did and the way he did it, that’s not for me. "But if I do, I know I did what's right. As to where he goes from here, while Kaepernick continues to sit during the anthem, he says there are also plans to do more than symbolically protest. Clearly aware of the backlash he's received since his stance became public, Kaepernick made it a point to clarify that he has nothing against the military. "I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. That’s our goal here, is to stay as (close) as we can because things like this are what breaks teams apart. My thing is, I wake up every day blessed and thankful to play in the NFL. We don’t think he’s a bad teammate because he decided to voice his opinion on such a strong topic. But we can’t allow this … to divide our team.” 
 
 TE Bruce Miller 
 
 “His approach is that he wants to be an active member of this football team and do what it takes to win football games. I told them why I felt that way and looked at things the way I do. As for the timing of the protest, Kaepernick said he didn't choose now simply because it's an election year, but he did voice his displeasure with the two presidential candidates. "At the end of the day, if something happens, that's only proving my point," Kaepernick said. "I do think that the talk has been more about me, more about I know a lot of people's initial reactions thought it was bashing the military, which it wasn't," Kaepernick said. We were open to each other’s opinions.
– 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.)