Colin Kaepernick Says Presidential Candidates Were Trying to ‘Debate Who’s Less Racist’

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/us/colin-kaepernick-says-presidential-candidates-were-trying-to-debate-whos-less-racist.html

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Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who has refused to stand during the national anthem as a way of protesting discrimination, called both major presidential candidates liars and said they seemed to be trying to “debate who’s less racist.”

The comments came on Tuesday, the day after Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee, debated each other for the first time. As part of their face-off, both candidates talked about how they would handle issues of discriminatory policing and race relations.

When asked by reporters for his assessment the next day, Mr. Kaepernick said he was not impressed by either candidate.

“To me, it was embarrassing to watch that these are our two candidates,” Mr. Kaepernick told reporters. “Both are proven liars, and it almost seems like they’re trying to debate who’s less racist. And at this point, talking with one of my friends, it was, you have to pick the lesser of two evils, but in the end, it’s still evil.”

Mr. Trump has criticized Mr. Kaepernick in the past. In an interview with “The Dori Monson Show” last month, he said that Mr. Kaepernick should think about leaving the United States.

“I have followed it and I think it’s personally not a good thing,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Kaepernick’s actions. “I think it’s a terrible thing, and you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him, let him try, it won’t happen.”

When asked about Mr. Trump’s comments on Tuesday, Mr. Kaepernick had tough words.

“It’s a very ignorant statement that if you don’t agree with what’s going on here, and that if you want justice, and liberty and freedom for all, that you should leave the country. Umm, no,” he said. “He always says, ‘Make America great again.’ Well, America has never been great for people of color, and, you know, that’s something that needs to be addressed. Let’s make America great for the first time.”

Mr. Kaepernick, who is biracial and was adopted by white parents, first caused an uproar late last month when he remained seated before a 49ers preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. He said afterward that he would not “stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” At recent games he has knelt on the sideline during the national anthem.