San Diego police chief: ‘We’re here to protect everyone, including Colin Kaepernick’
San Diego police chief Shelley Zimmerman spoke to SI’s Maggie Gray over the phone Thursday and shared her thoughts on Colin Kaepernick and his protest of the national anthem.
The 49ers and Chargers play their final preseason tune-up game Thursday night in San Diego, which houses a large U.S. Navy contingent. Zimmerman noted that the police’s job is to protect everyone, Kaepernick included.
Kaepernick has been choosing not to stand during the playing of the national anthem ahead of 49ers preseason games in protest of racial injustices and the treatment of minorities in America, sparking a firestorm of opinions and debate. Kaepernick is of mixed descent and has remained outspoken on the matter.
Zimmerman noted she considered Kaepernick’s recent choice to wear socksdepicting cartoon pigs wearing police gear to be disrespectful.
Watch the full interview above.
