Everyone has offered an opinion about Colin Kaepernick’s stance against the American flag—now Ruth Bader Ginsburg, justice of the nation’s highest court has offered hers.
In an interview with Yahoo’s Katie Couric on Oct. 10, Ginsburg discussed her displeasure with Kaepernick’s as well as other athletes’ refusal to stand for the U.S. National Anthem.
“I think it’s really dumb of them,” the Supreme Court justice said. “Would I arrest them for doing it? No. I think it’s dumb and disrespectful. I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning.”
She continued, “I think it’s a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn’t lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act. But it’s dangerous to arrest people for conduct that doesn’t jeopardize the health or well-being of other people.”
Kaepernick’s ongoing silent protest against the flag and national anthem as a way to combat racial oppression and police brutality in the United States has caused a media frenzy after he began it on Aug. 26.
Since then, his likability has decreased, making him the most disliked athlete in the league. Kaepernick has received backlash for his protest, including death threats, but that hasn’t stopped the quarterback.
