A retired Norfolk police officer has responded with a heartfelt post in response to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem.
The San Francisco 49s QB sparked controversy last week when he sat through the anthem, before the start of the team’s preseason game against the Packers. He later told reporters that he “refuses to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
Kaepernick also said that to him, the anthem represents a nation where “police officers are getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
While many people have weighed in on the debate, the open letter by Officer Chris Amos is garnering a lot of attention on social media and is being described as “required reading.”
Amos very eloquently gave a first-person perspective on the controversy and so far his letter has been shared more than 5,000 times.
He begins by saying the following:
“I am a retired police officer that had the misfortune of having to shoot and kill a 19-year-old African American male. And just like you said, I was the recipient of about $3,000 a month while on leave which was a good thing because I had to support a wife and three children under 7-years-old for about 2 months with that money.”
Amos talks about the things he has in common with the famous QB. They both wear uniforms, they’ve both experienced the hate and disgust of others because of those uniforms. But then Amos says: “Colin I am sorry for the endorsement deals you may lose and the dip in jersey sales, but please know you will NEVER lose what these men and women and their families have lost.”
Amos talks about the friends he’s had to bury, the funerals he’s had to attend and the playing of Taps that he will always proudly stand at attention for.
Amos also says there are bad apples in every profession, but the vast majority of law enforcement officers around the country go out to protect and serve their country, honorably and proudly.
“Did I mention that seconds before I was shot, an elderly African American gentleman walking down the sidewalk, turned to my partner and I as we rode past and said, “Get them.” Get who you ask? The thugs terrorizing an otherwise good and decent neighborhood, home to dozens of good, decent African American families trying to raise those families in communities not protected by gates and security guards.”
Here is the open letter in its entirety:
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