"Their motivation, intent and interpretation are what give them meaning."

I think you are on to something here.   Kaepernick's intention and motivation may have been about race, but a lot of people are interpreting it as a disrespect of the flag and anthem.

Kap's fans can't seem to even acknowledge that others may be interpreting things this way.  The activists choose to equate defense of flag and anthem as a defense of racism....and then presume to that the others interpret it the same way too ("If you don't agree with my interpretation, then you are racist.")

Interpretations being pronounced, and denounced, as facts.  That where the level of discourse is at.