49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is trying to win back his starting job. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) 
 
 Now is not the time to demonize Colin Kaepernick. 
 
 Instead, this is an opportunity to listen to his heart. 
 
 The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has taken a stand by refusing to stand for the national anthem, a not-so-subtle admonishment of the country amid his courageous social statement protesting perceived injustices of police brutality that have touched so many African-Americans and other minorities. 
 
 “I’ll continue to sit,” Kaepernick, 28, told reporters in the locker room Sunday, two days after his demonstration exploded as another case of sports transcending society. 
 
 “I’ll continue to stand with the people who are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change, and when there’s significant change — and I feel like that flag represents what It’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way it’s supposed to — I’ll stand.” 
 
 More power to him. 
 
 After sitting on the bench as the anthem was played before a Friday night exhibition against the Green Bay Packers (Kaepernick sat out The Star Stangled Banner in the Niners' two previous preseason games, too, when he wasn't in uniform) told NFL Network's Steve Wyche that he refused to “show pride in the flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” 
 
 Referring to recent slayings of African-Americans by police that have sparked racial tensions, protests and other forms of backlash across the nation, which has historically tilted the scales of the criminal justice system so unfavorably against minorities, Kaepernick lamented that it would be selfish not to protest. 
 
 "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” he said. 
 
 In the face of intense criticism, including some fans who have responded by burning his jersey, Kaepernick doubled down Sunday after a meeting in which the issue was discussed with teammates — and most supported his First Amendment right to express himself. 
 
 The embattled quarterback calmly spoke for roughly 20 minutes afterward, hardly afraid to face the heat or dodge the opportunity to explain himself in further detail. He maintained that he wanted to bring awareness to an issue. Mission accomplished. 
 
 “This country stands for liberty, freedom, justice for all,” he said. “And it’s not happening for all right now.” 
 
 Agree with his methods or not, Kaepernick is a fresh example showing that the Constitution applies to all Americans — including those in football uniforms. The way I see it, Kaepernick just earned a lot of street cred for at least standing up for something that he’s obviously passionate about — knowing full well there could be a political price to pay. 
 
 Somewhere, Muhammad Ali is smiling. 
 
 “I have to stand up for people that are oppressed,” Kaepernick told Wyche. “If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.” 
 
 There’s no NFL policy mandating players to stand up during the anthem. In a text message, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said “players are encouraged to stand but not required.” 
 
 Niners coach Chip Kelly isn’t slamming Kaepernick, either, maintaining: “We recognize his right to express his feelings.” 
 
 There are many societal issues and causes that any of us can choose to protest, yet Kaepernick has chosen to focus on police brutality. This is consistent with disgust he expressed in early July when police in Baton Rouge shot Alton Sterling to death after he was thrown to the ground by two officers. On social media, Kaepernick wrote, “This is what lynchings look like in 2016!” 
 
 It’s striking that Kaepernick, who played his first game in 292 days Friday even as numerous injuries have left him little chance of winning the starting job, is suddenly evoking the spirit of John Carlos and Tommie Smith, U.S. track athletes who protested conditions of African-Americans on the grand stage of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City by raising black-gloved fists during the anthem. 
 
 Not popular. 
 
 The people so willing to dump on Kaepernick for making his expression public are conveniently denying him the respect that he deserves to do just that. America isn’t perfect. And many have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the country's ideals. 
 
 Kaepernick insists his actions are not meant to disrespect the military. Instead, he believes, “People are dying in vain because this country is not holding up their end of the bargain up, as far as giving liberty, freedom and justice to everybody.” 
 
 American values. Like equality. Like the right to call ourselves out. 
 
 Kaepernick has reminded us of that. 
 
 *** 
 
 Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell 
 
 PHOTOS: NFL preseason action ||||| SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem in each of the team's three preseason games and said he plans to continue to do so until he sees real change when it comes to racial oppression in the United States. 
 
 "Yes, I'll continue to sit," Kaepernick said. "I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change. When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand." 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, Kaepernick spent nearly 20 minutes addressing reporters for the first time since he was spotted sitting between two Gatorade jugs during the national anthem before Friday's game against the Green Bay Packers. 
 
 Clearly aware of the backlash he's received since his stance became public, Kaepernick made it a point to clarify that he has nothing against the military. 
 
 "I do think that the talk has been more about me, more about I know a lot of people's initial reactions thought it was bashing the military, which it wasn't," Kaepernick said. "That wasn't my intention at all. I think now that we have those things cleared up, we can get to the root of what I was saying and really address those issues." 
 
 During the extensive interview, Kaepernick covered a variety of subjects, ranging from his reasoning behind sitting to whether he'll fear for his safety on the road this year to the presidential election. 
 
 Kaepernick said his decision to make his stance has been a long time coming and was born of years of both witnessing and being a part of racial oppression. 
 
 "It's something that I've seen, I've felt, wasn't quite sure how to deal with originally," Kaepernick said. "And it is something that's evolved. It's something that as I've gained more knowledge about, what's gone on in this country in the past, what's going on currently. These aren't new situations. This isn't new ground. There are things that have gone on in this country for years and years and have never been addressed, and they need to be." 
 
 Asked to offer some specifics, Kaepernick cited police brutality in a number of cities that have resulted in the deaths of black men. 
 
 Kaepernick recounted a story of one of his college roommates moving out of their house, and because he and his roommates were the only black people in the neighborhood, the police came and drew guns on them. 
 
 "I do think that the talk has been more about me, more about I know a lot of people's initial reactions thought it was bashing the military, which it wasn't. That wasn't my intention at all. I think now that we have those things cleared up, we can get to the root of what I was saying and really address those issues." 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick 
 
 "I have experienced this," Kaepernick said. "People close to me have experienced this. This isn't something that's a one-off case here or a one-off case there. This has become habitual. This has become a habit. So this is something that needs to be addressed." 
 
 Kaepernick said his decision to sit also wasn't made spur of the moment. He cited conversations with other players and influential people, such as Dr. Harry Edwards, as taking place in the time before taking action. 
 
 Dr. Edwards, who was instrumental in the protest by U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, is a 49ers team consultant and shared a hug and brief conversation with Kaepernick before Sunday's practice. 
 
 Kaepernick also addressed the team at a players-only meeting that took place Sunday morning. 
 
 "They asked me to talk and just explain why I did what I did," Kaepernick said. "And why I felt the way I felt. I had an open conversation with them. I told them why I felt that way and looked at things the way I do. A lot of it has to do with the history of the country and where we're currently at. I opened it up to all my teammates. Come talk to me if you have any questions. If you want to understand what I'm thinking further, come talk to me. It shouldn't be something that should be hidden. These conversations need to happen and can bring everybody closer." 
 
 Kaepernick said he has no plans to try to get other players to join him in his protest, citing the attention that goes with making such a move. 
 
 "This isn't something I'm going to ask other people to put their necks out for what I'm doing," Kaepernick said. "If they agree with me and feel strongly about it, then by all means I hope they stand with me. But I'm not going to go and try to recruit people and be like 'Hey, come do this with me' because I know the consequences that come with that, and they need to make that decision for themselves." 
 
 As for the timing of the protest, Kaepernick said he didn't choose now simply because it's an election year, but he did voice his displeasure with the two presidential candidates. 
 
 "You have Hillary [Clinton], who has called black teens or black kids superpredators," Kaepernick said. "You have Donald Trump, who is openly racist. We have a presidential candidate [Clinton] who has deleted emails and done things illegally and is a presidential candidate. That doesn't make sense to me. If that was any other person, you'd be in prison. So what is this country really standing for?" 
 
 From a football perspective, Kaepernick said he wants the team focus to be on winning games, but that there's also a time to discuss social issues. Asked whether he thought he could be cut for taking this stance, Kaepernick didn't seem concerned. 
 
 "I don't know," Kaepernick said. "But if I do, I know I did what's right. And I can live with that at the end of the day." 
 
 Kaepernick also said he has no concerns about potential backlash when he plays in road games this year. 
 
 "At the end of the day, if something happens, that's only proving my point," Kaepernick said. 
 
 As to where he goes from here, while Kaepernick continues to sit during the anthem, he says there are also plans to do more than symbolically protest. 
 
 "There are things that I have in the works right now that I'm working on to put together in the future and have come to fruition soon," Kaepernick said. "Those are things that I'll talk about as we get closer to those days." ||||| San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, middle, kneels during the national anthem before the team's NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in San... (Associated Press) 
 
 SAN DIEGO (AP) — While a naval officer sang the first notes of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and dozens of military members unfurled an oversized flag on the football field, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid dropped to one knee on the San Francisco 49ers' sideline. 
 
 With his silent gestures of protest, Kaepernick intends to keep drawing attention to a litany of American problems — and he's no longer alone. 
 
 Kaepernick and Reid kneeled during the national anthem Thursday before the 49ers' 31-21 preseason victory over San Diego, ignoring scattered boos and angry shouts in Qualcomm Stadium at the Chargers' Salute to the Military preseason game. 
 
 Up north in Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane showed his support for Kaepernick by sitting on the bench during the anthem. 
 
 "I'm not anti-American. I love America," said Kaepernick, who stayed on the field long after the game to sign autographs for enthusiastic fans. "I love people. That's why I'm doing this. I want to help make America better, and I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from." 
 
 Kaepernick's protest has dominated the public discussion of the nation's most popular sport this week, and his stance has been met with passionate condemnation and support. His refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice last week when he remained seated on the 49ers' bench before a preseason game against Green Bay. 
 
 The quarterback cited numerous reasons for his actions, ranging from racial injustice and minority oppression to police brutality and the treatment of military veterans. 
 
 Kaepernick said he plans to continue his protests during the regular season. He also intends to donate $1 million "to different organizations to help these communities and help these people," declining to provide specifics. 
 
 "The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with," Kaepernick said. "We have a lot of people that are oppressed. We have a lot of people that aren't treated equally, that aren't given equal opportunities. Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of issues that need to be talked about." 
 
 Kaepernick wasn't earnestly booed in San Diego until he took the field to start the game for the 49ers, immediately leading them on a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive against the hometown team. Amid his burgeoning social activism, he is also fighting for a roster spot and attempting to regain the starting job that he lost last season. 
 
 When Kaepernick left the field following pregame warmups, he was greeted with profanity and obscene gestures from Leo Uzcategui, a 20-year Navy veteran in a military-green Chargers jersey with quarterback Philip Rivers' No. 17 in camouflage numbering. 
 
 "I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag," Uzcategui said. "If he wants to do something, go to some outreach program where he can do some good. And I get it, his First Amendment right. But you don't sit during the presenting of the colors, and you don't sit during the national anthem. That is not the way to do it." 
 
 A sign in the crowd read: "You're an American. Act like one." 
 
 But Domenique Banks, a 23-year-old fan from nearby Oceanside, California, got the quarterback to sign his Kaepernick jersey before the game. 
 
 "I told him I appreciate what he is standing up for," Banks said. "He said he appreciated it. Most of the people I talk to say the same thing. I don't like that he is sitting during the national anthem, but I appreciate what he is standing for." 
 
 Kaepernick was thrilled to be joined by Reid, the 49ers' starting safety and a fourth-year veteran from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Reid and Kaepernick decided together on kneeling rather than sitting during the anthem. 
 
 "I just wanted to show my support for him," Reid said. "He wanted to make it clear that he wasn't trying to be disrespectful to the military or the national anthem, so he decided to change his position to be more respectful, but still bring awareness to the issues that he believes are going on in this country, and that I wholeheartedly believe exist in this country." 
 
 In Oakland, Lane sat on the bench behind his standing teammates before Seattle's game against the Raiders. Lane said he doesn't know Kaepernick, but was "standing behind him." 
 
 "It's something I plan to keep on doing until I feel like justice has been served," Lane said. "No, I didn't tell anyone I was going to do it. I just did it. ... I don't mean no disrespect toward anybody, but I'm just standing behind what I believe." 
 
 Kaepernick kneeled next to Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who went to training camp with the Seahawks last year as a long snapper. Boyer, who wrote a conciliatory open letter to Kaepernick earlier this week, spoke with the quarterback about his stance this week. He posted a photo of the two on Twitter with a caption reading, "Let's just keep moving forward. This is what America should be all about." 
 
 When the same naval officer performed "God Bless America" before the fourth quarter, Kaepernick remained standing and then applauded along with his teammates. 
 
 Kaepernick doesn't intend his stance to be a criticism of the military. When the Chargers' public-address announcer asked fans to recognize active military personnel during a timeout, the quarterback stood and enthusiastically applauded along with his teammates and the entire stadium. 
 
 "I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put themselves in harm's way for my freedom of speech, and my freedoms in this country, and my freedom to take a seat or take a knee," Kaepernick said. "So I have the utmost respect for them, and I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way." 
 
 Kaepernick's social activism, which only emerged publicly in recent weeks, also included support for the Black Lives Matter movement through social media. 
 
 While negative reaction to the quarterback has been strong, Kaepernick also has been widely praised for his commitment to his stance. Veterans and military members tweeted their support for Kaepernick in recent days under the hashtag "VeteransForKaepernick." 
 
 "It was something I was thinking about to make sure that I'm not just talking about something, but I'm actively being involved and actively trying to make a change in these communities," Kaepernick said. "I've been very blessed to be in this position and be able to make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people." 
 
 ___ 
 
 AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in Oakland contributed to this story. 
 
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 Online: 
 
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– Colin Kaepernick may have made himself America's least popular football player with his refusal to stand for the national anthem, but he isn't backing down, ESPN reports. The San Francisco 49er told reporters Sunday that he won't stand for the anthem until America stops oppressing black people. "When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand," said the quarterback, who cited recent police killings of black men and his own experiences of prejudice and oppression. He stressed, however, that he has nothing against the military. Asked if he thought he might be cut from the team, Kaepernick said, "I don't know. But if I do, I know I did what's right. And I can live with that at the end of the day." The San Francisco Chronicle spoke to his teammates and found that while some of them are offended by his stance, they respect his right to voice an opinion. "I think everyone has a right to stand up for what they believe in. I respect that, first and foremost, whether I agree with what he did and the way he did it, that's not for me," says wide receiver Torrey Smith. "He has that right. [Soldiers] will die for his right to do exactly what he did." (Some former fans are burning Kaepernick jerseys.)