Colin Kaepernick calls Independence Day a 'celebration of white supremacy' and REJECTS it because black people have been 'dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized and terrorized' in the US for centuries
Colin Kaepernick issued a fierce rebuke of Independence Day, slamming the 'celebration of white supremacy' and calling out America for 'centuries' of abuse against black people.
The star athlete and activist took to Twitter to share the powerful rejection, along with a video of actor James Earl Jones reciting Frederick Douglass's renowned speech 'What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?'
The video showed a series of shocking visuals, including photos of slave auctions, Ku Klux Klan members, lynchings, videos of officers brutally beating black inmates and of police brutality, racist caricature drawings and the works.
The star athlete and activist took to Twitter to share the powerful rejection, along with a video of actor James Earl Jones reciting Frederick Douglass's renowned speech 'What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?'
'Black ppl have been dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries, & are expected to join your commemoration of 'independence', while you enslaved our ancestors,' Kaepernick said in his tweet.
'We reject your celebration of white supremacy & look forward to liberation for all.'
Kaepernick's tweet comes as Americans across the United States take part in historic demonstrations following the death of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
Roughly 15 million people to 26 million people have been a part of demonstrations to protest against systemic racism and police brutality in the United States.
'Black ppl have been dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries, & are expected to join your commemoration of 'independence', while you enslaved our ancestors,' Kaepernick said in his tweet. 'We reject your celebration of white supremacy & look forward to liberation for all'
Kaepernick's tweet comes as Americans across the United States have been involved in historic demonstrations following the death of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd
Recent surveys show that more than 4,700 demonstrations have happened in the United States since May 26, averaging out to roughly 140 per day.
Douglass was a prolific abolitionist who often called out the hypocrisy of the Founding Fathers while also applauding their ideals of freedom.
He made the patriotic speech the day after the 4th of July in 1852.
