Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick received criticism after he spoke out about what he called “American terrorist attacks” against people of color.
On Saturday, Kaepernick added to the chorus of criticism of President Donald Trump’s decision to order the airstrike that killed Iran’s top general — Qassem Soleimani.
In pair of tweets on Saturday, he said, “There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism.”
There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism.
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 4, 2020
America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad. America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce its policing and plundering of the non white world.
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 4, 2020
His tweets did not sit well with some Twitter users:
https://twitter.com/SebGorka/status/1213834211863547904
https://twitter.com/MarkDice/status/1213570063275417600
Because everything is racist. Everything. Even fighting back against terrorists who kill Americans. Nike, feeling proud? https://t.co/sfc1Yz3phY
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) January 4, 2020
If there were ever a mad lib twitter bot that imitated Chomsky and Ta-Nehisi but had the algorithmic subject comprehension of a Tide commercial … oh look, Colin Kaepernick is tweeting about the Soleimani hit. https://t.co/KjejpB0ufG
— Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) January 5, 2020
You realize the guy we killed, Soleimani, was responsible for killing 600+ Americans including Black & Brown Americans… right? I’m guessing you don’t since you thought Fidel Castro was a good guy despite stealing everything from innocent families like mine. Idiotic & vile take.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 4, 2020
Kaepernick’s tweet comes amid escalating tension between the United States and Iran that led to the decision to target Soleimani — who was believed to be planning some kind of attack against America.
Trump authorized an airstrike on Thursday to kill Soleimani after an Iranian backed militia attacked an Iraqi military base where U.S. personnel were stationed. That attack left one American contractor dead and several Iraqi and U.S. troops wounded.
The Iraqi parliament responded to the airstrike — which took place near Baghdad International Airport — by approving a resolution to end an agreement that would have allowed the U.S. to keep troops in the country to continue the fight against ISIS.
