Baltimore Councilman Dons Kaepernick Jersey, Calls Protest the American Way
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Controversy over Colin Kaepernick comes to Baltimore.
High profile Marylanders are weighing in on the athlete's decision to kneel during the National Anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality.
San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is facing both praise and criticism as he decides to kneel during the National Anthem in an act of protest.
Now, in an interview with USA Today, Orioles outfielder Adam Jones says he's is backing the football star.
"I thought we had a first amendment. So I'm using it in a respectful manner," said Jones.
But Jones says you won't see the same protest in baseball because "We already have two strikes against us so you might as well not kick yourself out of the game. In football, you can't kick them out. You need those players. In baseball, they don't need us, baseball is a white man's sport. There's nothing about me racist. I just stated the simple fact. Baseball is numbers. It's 8% black. I didn't make that up. In football, basketball, the numbers are in the 60s and 70s. These aren't made up numbers. It just is what it is."
Jones says he's gotten a lot of positive responses, but says, "Is everybody going to agree with what I say? No. Why? Because I'm sticking up for people who don't have the voice."
The controversy also spilling over into the political arena. Tonight, Councilman Brandon Scott wore a Kaepernick jersey over his suit.
"It's a show of solidarity for what that young man is doing," said Scott.
The councilman says protests like this are the American way.
"It's not about being disrespectful to anyone. It's about protecting basic American rights, which freedom of speech and right to protest is exactly what being an American is all about and folks have to understand that," said Scott.
While he supports Kaepernick, Adam Jones say he has no plans to take a knee during the National Anthem.
