By NOAH TRISTER
Contributing Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has captured a top award from the American Civil Liberties Union recognizing contributions to American thought and culture.
Kaepernick was honored with the ACLU Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports. It comes a decade after Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest against police violence and racial inequality, almost single-handedly fueling a movement for police accountability in the U.S.
“We know our civil liberties are under attack, we know humanity is under attack, education is under attack. They are trying to encroach on our rights, encroach on our dignity, encroach on the future that we want to build together,” Kaepernick said in his acceptance speech.
“When we look back at this moment, it will not be the speeches that change the direction of history. It’s going to be whether we decided: Are we going to build the schools or not? Are we going to defend the rights of others, or are we going to watch? Are we going to build community together, or are we going to stand in isolation?
“The consequences of these decisions are going to be the reality that the future generations inherit,” he concluded.
In his on-field protests, Kaepernick was frequently joined by teammate Eric Reid and others, but he also drew criticism from politicians, team owners and other players. Kaepernick and Reid filed collusion grievances against the NFL in 2017, saying they were blacklisted. They reached a settlement in 2019.
“He demonstrated in real time the price America too often exacts from those who challenge racial injustice,” said ACLU President Deborah Archer. “His peaceful protest was met with extraordinary personal sacrifice. He lost the career he spent his life building. He became the target of criticism, hostility and relentless public attack, and yet he never retreated.”
Despite not playing since 2016, Kaepernick, now 38, remains committed to training daily and still expresses hope for a possible return to pro football.
Kaepernick and rock star Bruce Springsteen were honored as part of an awards ceremony hosted by actress Laverne Cox. Springsteen was recognized for his longtime advocacy on behalf of civil rights and liberties.
This new award pays tribute to celebrated Black writer Ralph Ellison, author of the award-winning 1952 novel “Invisible Man,” which chronicles many of the social and cultural challenges Black Americans face.
Ellison’s profound contributions to American thought and culture underscores the ACLU’s recognition that the defense of basic rights takes many forms, disciplines, platforms, and generations, officials said.
The awards are being bestowed alongside other esteemed leaders in civil rights, academia, and free speech, who have been selected for the organization’s prestigious biennial awards recognizing lifetime achievements and contributions to civil rights and civil liberties.
“It’s important for us to recognize all of the people who are contributing to the fight to protect civil rights and civil liberties,” Archer said. “Those folks — actors, athletes — these folks have all shown up in incredibly powerful ways.”
Noah Trister writes for the Associated Press. Wave staff contributed to this report.
