Bruce Springsteen and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick received the ACLU Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports on Friday, July 24, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Kaepernick, who knelt during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police violence and racial inequality, 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?”
Kaepernick’s protest drew criticism from politicians and team owners. He and teammate Eric Reid filed collusion grievances against the NFL in 2017, alleging they were blacklisted for their activism. The grievances were settled in 2019.
Deborah Archer, ACLU president, said of Kaepernick: “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.”
Springsteen closed the awards ceremony with a solo performance of “Streets of Minneapolis.” The event was hosted by actress Laverne Cox.
Source: Billboard
