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Rodney Harrison says Colin Kapernick's "not black"

By Alex Butler
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, and safety Rodney Harrison (37) walk off the field after the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24-20 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on November 4, 2007. (UPI Photo/Mark Cowan)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, and safety Rodney Harrison (37) walk off the field after the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24-20 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on November 4, 2007. (UPI Photo/Mark Cowan) | License Photo

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Add former NFL safety Rodney Harrison to the list of critics of Colin Kaepernick.

On Tuesday, Harrison took his stance a bit further than some, regarding Kaepernick's protest of the national anthem.

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"I tell you this, I'm a black man. And Colin Kaepernick—he's not black," Harrison told Sportstalk 790 AM. "He can not understand what I face and what other young black men and black people face, or people of color face, on a every single [day] basis. When you walk in a grocery store, and you might have $2,000 or $3,000 in your pocket and you go up in to a Foot Locker and they're looking at you like you about to steal something."

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback intends to continue to sit down during the playing of the anthem before football games, in order to bring awareness to racial oppression.

Harrison played 15 years in the NFL. He is a former first-team All-Pro and a three-time Pro-Bowl selection.

He later apologized.

"I never intended to offend anyone , I was trying to speak about my experiences as a African American," Harrison tweeted. "I apologize to anyone that I offended , wasn't meant to be hurtful to anyone. God bless."

"Last point I want people to know," Harrison tweeted. "I never even knew he was mixed. I should not have called Colin Kaepernick's race into question during this morning's radio interview. It was a mistake and I apologize."

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