Award for Colin Kaepernick, Ambassador of Conscience 2018
For defending the rights of the population and protesting against racial discrimination, American football player Colin Kaepernick received the Ambassador of Conscience Award 2018 from Amnesty International (AI).
The Secretary-General of this organization, Salil Shetty, explained in a statement that "the Ambassador of Conscience Award celebrates the spirit of activism and exceptional courage, two qualities that embody Colin Kaepernick, an athlete who is already widely recognized for his activism in refusing to ignore or accept racial discrimination".
The quarterback of the National Football League (NFL) was selected to receive this recognition for speaking out against injustices and inspiring others despite the professional and personal risks for the reaction his actions have had.
In a 2016 NFL preseason game, the player remained on one knee during the National Anthem of the United States as a protest against racial injustices and to ask "his country to protect and defend the rights of its entire population", which sparked a movement among athletes for nonviolent protests.
Shetty stated that "when a figure of great impact decides to take a stand for human rights, their attitude reinforces the courage of many others in their fight against injustice".
The quarterback and his charity organization, the Colin Kaepernick Foundation, work to combat oppression worldwide through education and social activism, such as the free "Know Your Rights" camps, where young people are educated and empowered, as explained in the AI statement.
Upon receiving the award, Kaepernick expressed gratitude for the designation and stated that he shares this recognition "with the countless people around the world who are fighting against human rights violations committed by law enforcement agents and their excessive and oppressive use of force".
The award was presented on April 21st in Amsterdam, and Eric Reid, also a professional football player and former teammate of Kaepernick, was responsible for presenting him with this distinction.