P.O.P. STANDS WITH COLIN KAEPERNICK AND GIANT PLAYERS’

‘TAKING A KNEE FOR JUSTICE’!

            The People’s Organization for Progress voted to stand in solidarity with exiled NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose taking a knee silent protest of police brutality has created a firestorm of controversy in American popular culture over whether or not such a gesture is unpatriotic.

            Kaepernick, who is just several years away from taking the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl and is still in his prime years as an athlete, was not given a contract or opportunity to play for any NFL team since his stance. He became a free agent at the end of last season.

            NFL owners deny their banishment of the courageous young athlete. Serious social critics call his not being picked up this year by any team an obvious consequence of his stance and his position.

            Kaepernick also does social justice centered projects with his charity programs. His ‘Know Your Rights Camps’ are raising his profile and popularity among young people in the popular culture in spite of his professional isolation.

            Just last week, three New York Giants, Olivier Vernon, Landon Collins, and Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison, took a knee during the national anthem. Their teammates locked arms in unity, the broader gesture among most NFL players since the season began, with those who took a knee over their ‘right to do so’.

            The organization’s vote to stand in solidarity with these athletes took place at their weekly General Assembly meeting last Thursday.

            Meanwhile, the scourge of police brutality towards Black and Brown communities continues to stalk the country. St Louis had an uprising last month after the acquittal of a police officer captured on tape pursuing a suspect saying “we’re killing this mother f*ker.” Protests also erupted in Salt Lake City in recent days after the clearing of police officers in the shooting death of an unarmed Black man in August even though video footage showed the decedent posing no threat to the police.

            P.O.P. will continue its Justice Monday protests, rallies that have been held every Monday since February 2^nd 2016 at the Federal Building over New Jersey’s five recent police killings that merit federal intervention.

            Sunday, October 22^nd is a Nat’l Day Against Police Brutality! At least a dozen cities are hosting rallies and protests in a united stand against police abuse on that day including, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Minneapolis, and again St. Louis and St. Lake City. In Newark, P.O.P. will co-host a rally with Mothers Cry For Justice at the Lincoln Monument at 3pm…

THE PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS

PO BOX 22505

NEWARK, NJ 07101

973 801 0001

www.njpop.org