Over the weekend, more members of the Hip Hop community showed support for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, with J. Cole and Trey Songz both wearing his #7 jersey in recent performances.
The football player’s decision to not participate in the American National Anthem during multiple pre-season games was a symbol of protest against injustice and the killings of African Americans by police. The act opened up a passionate national debate about patriotism and the right to free speech.
The North Carolina rapper donned the jersey at a performance on Saturday.
J. Cole performing in a Kaepernick jersey last night. pic.twitter.com/V3zVepGhJe
— Only Hip Hop Facts (@OnlyHipHopFacts) September 5, 2016
Trey Songz also wore the jersey while performing at Drai’s in Las Vegas.
Kaepernick’s protest has become such a big issue that President Obama addressed it at a news conference in China on Monday, saying that the player is “exercising his constitutional right.”
“I don’t doubt his sincerity,” Obama said of the San Francisco 49er quarterback. “I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about. If nothing else, he’s generated more conversation about issues that have to be talked about.”
As of publishing, Kaepernick’s jersey is currently the #5 most popular online in the NFLStore and makes up three of the top five most popular on Shop49ers.com.
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