Colin Kaepernick awarded with newly-minted ACLU honor a decade after his historic NFL protest

The Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports was presented to Kaepernick and singer Bruce Springsteen at an event in Washington D.C. on Friday.

Ten years after first taking a knee in protest of police violence and racial inequality, Colin Kaepernick is once again being honored by the American Civil Liberties Union.

On Friday, Kaepernick, along with singer Bruce Springsteen, was honored with the Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports, a new award recognizing individual contributions to American thought and culture. Kaepnerick received the honor after his 2016 protest during the national anthem, which sparked widespread conversation about race in America.

“Bruce Springsteen and Colin Kaepernick epitomize talent with a purpose. Bruce Springsteen’s iconic songs like ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ date back decades, and so does his advocacy on behalf of civil rights and liberties. Colin Kaepernick’s activism off the field has changed lives for a decade, long after the backlash he received for speaking out against racial injustice,” Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director, said in a statement. “We are proud of the partnerships the ACLU has formed with Bruce and Colin, and we’re honored to recognize their lifetime achievements with one of the ACLU’s highest honors.”

During his acceptance speech, Kaepernick pointed out that several walks of American life, including civil liberties, were in danger.

“We know our civil liberties are under attack, we know humanity is under attack, education is under attack,” he said. “They are trying to encroach on our rights, encroach on our dignity, encroach on the future that we want to build together.”

He added, “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.”

Kaepernick’s protest led politicians, fellow athletes and others across the spectrum to weigh in. He never played another snap in the NFL, and he, along with former teammate Eric Reid, filed a collusion suit against the NFL, alleging they were blackballed for their protests. The case was ultimately settled in 2019, though terms were not disclosed.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback did attempt a comeback with a workout in front of NFL scouts and executives in 2019, but both sides reached an impasse. He then conducted personal workouts in 2022 and had a lone NFL workout with the Las Vegas Raiders that same year. Ultimately, the Raiders did not sign him.