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Film director Spike Lee is using social media to invite fans and supporters to gather in support of unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick this month. According to a social media post from Lee on Tuesday calling for a "Rally for Colin" the "United We Stand" rally for Kaepernick will start at 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 23 at 345 Park Avenue in New York City. The address is noteworthy as the headquarters of the NFL administrative offices.
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"I Did Not Organize And Set Up This Protest. However I Still Support My Brother And His Stance On The Injustices In The USA," Lee said in a separate Twitter post.
Kaepernick remains unsigned one month before the start of the 2017 regular season.I Did Not Organize And Set Up This Protest. However I Still Support My Brother And His Stance On The Injustices In The USA
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) August 8, 2017Advertisement
Lee and others have suggested Kaepernick, who was 2-10 as a starter with the 49ers last season, is not employed by a team because of his public position on social injustices. Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem before games last season to raise awareness for such issues, but declared in the offseason he would not bring any form of protest to a new team in 2017.
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) August 8, 2017"My original position was I thought that the situation last year with him taking a knee didn't have anything to do with it," Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. "After viewing what's going on, I've got to take that back. I definitely think that the league, the owners are trying to send a message of, 'Stay in between the lines.' It's frustrating because you want to have guys who are willing to speak out about things that they believe in, whether you agree with it or not. But I think that's definitely playing a role now moreso than I thought it was going to."
Seattle is the only team to host Kaepernick since he opted out of his contract with the 49ers, who are in the midst of a rebuilding project that began with a complete front-office housecleaning and new head coach.
First-time 49ers general manager John Lynch said he's certain Kaepernick is committed to football and being a quarterback. Even so, Lynch said he told Kaepernick he needs to clarify where football and activism rank on his priority list because of the franchise-level expectations for quarterbacks in the NFL.
"I think you are having a little bit of an image crisis in terms of not so much what you did last year, but people are wondering, is this most important to you, at a position where the guys that succeed at that position are the guys that live it, breathe it, the CEOs that play that position," Lynch said he told Kaepernick. "And I think there is a perception that football's not on the top of his list. And so, my communication with Colin was that your best effort, I think the way you could best help yourself is to not have someone talk for you, not have statements, but go sit down and do an interview, and let people know exactly where you stand."
The 29-year-old Kaepernick had shoulder surgery prior to the 2016 season and began the regular season behind Blaine Gabbert in San Francisco.
Seattle general manager John Schneider, who led the in-person meeting with Kaepernick in Renton, Wash., on May 24 said the Seahawks were convinced Kaepernick is fully dedicated to football.
"There's no question about it," he told NFL Network on Monday. "I don't think anyone else brought him in but we were doing our due diligence. We had a great visit with him. I think he plays in the league. There is just a lot that surrounds it when he's a backup quarterback. Now, if he's a guy out there competing to be a starter, I think that's a different situation. For us, we try to be in every situation we possibly can. (Seahawks head coach) Pete (Carroll) and I talked about it for a long time. We wanted to be able to sit down and visit with him and go through the process with him knowing we know exactly who he is, exactly where he stands and we can go to him if needed."
