Current and retired New York police officers came out in support of the unsigned former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Since last year's NFL preseason, Kaepernick has boldly risked his career taking a knee during the national anthem against police brutality and injustice toward people of color. His protest made him an enemy of the right. Fans believe that his protest has blackballed him and has been used as a pretext by the 32 NFL teams to not sign him as a QB.  

According to The New York Times, there were about 80 officers gathered at Brooklyn Bridge Park in support of Kaepernick's protest. The event was organized by Sgt. Edwin Raymond and officers wore black T-shirts emblazoned with “#IMWITHKAP” to show solidarity. Most notably, retired officer Frank Serpico, who exposed corruption in the New York Police Department in the 1970s,  was there in attendance.

“As members of law enforcement, we can confirm that the issues he is saying exist in policing, and throughout the criminal justice system, indeed exist,” Sergeant Raymond said of Kaepernick.

The QB had a stellar statistical season but was not signed by a team. Supporters and fans decided to fight back with scheduled rallies and a spreading NFL blackout movement boycotting the brand's products and games. 

“They said he disrespected law enforcement,” Sergeant Raymond said. “Well, I’m law enforcement, and he didn’t disrespect me.”

The newfound support also comes at a time when an announcement stating that Kap's protest items will be part of the Black Lives Matter collection at the Smithsonian.  

“People use the terms ‘antipolice,’ ‘unpatriotic,’ to scare people from stepping forward,” he said later in an interview. “It takes courage to say, ‘I’m going to do it anyway, because it’s what’s right.’”

Colin-KaepernickNational Anthem protest