President Barack Obama spoke out during a CNN town hall that aired Wednesday on the recent national controversy over the national anthem in the wake of waves of protests in which many are choosing not to stand while the anthem is played.
The protests largely began after NFL player Colin Kaepernick refused to stand and told the press that his protest was meant to call attention to the treatment of people of color in the United States.
–Virginia Beach restaurant tapes Colin Kaepernick jersey to the floor
In addressing the controversy, the president called for people from both sides to listen to each other and consider the pain that each side felt. He asked Kaepernick to consider the pain caused when military families saw his protest but also asked those who disagreed with the protest to consider the pain of families of color in facing racism and even violence.
“I want Mr. Kaepernick and others who are on a knee, I want them to listen to the pain that they may cause someone who, for example, had a spouse or a child who was killed in combat,” Obama said. “But I also want people to think about the pain that he may be expressing about somebody who has lost a loved one that they think was unfairly shot.”
[griojw id=”X2o3o1DN” playerid=””]