The Former Green Beret Behind Kaepernick's Protests
*By Max Godnick*
The man behind Colin Kaepernick's controversial decision to kneel during the National Anthem understands why some might take offense to Nike's 30th anniversary "Just Do It" ad campaign. But former NFL player and Army Special Forces vet Nate Boyer sees the gesture as a compromise that gives weight to Kaepernick's views and still honors service members.
"We came to this idea of taking a knee alongside his teammates instead of sitting on the bench isolated," Boyer said Thursday in an interview on Cheddar. "He thought that was very powerful, and he would do that for the men and women who fought and died for what that flag represents."
Nike's decision to tap Kaepernick as the face of its campaign has sparked passionate reactions across the political spectrum. [LeBron James](https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1037425215653982209) and [Serena Williams] (https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/1036769320196616198) led a chorus of supporters who praised the move, while critics threatened a boycott, trashing the athletic giant's apparel and posting the evidence on social media.
Boyer said he doesn't take issue with Kaepernick's inclusion in the campaign, but he understands why some veterans are offended by the tagline, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."
"That can be hurtful to some people who truly believe that their brothers and sisters in arms who they laid to rest paid that ultimate sacrifice," he said.
Boyer and Kaepernick first met in 2016 after the quarterback began protesting racial injustice by sitting during the National Anthem. The former Green Beret published an [open letter](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000693173/article/nate-boyer-writes-open-letter-to-colin-kaepernick) in response to the football star, and the two eventually met in-person.
When Kaepernick [knelt for the first time](https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/11/09/nate-boyer-colin-kaepernick-you-can-do-more), Boyer stood alongside him and continues to support his mission.
And the movement the two started is still deeply relevant. A [clip](https://nowthisnews.com/videos/politics/beto-orourke-on-nfl-players-kneeling-during-the-national-anthem) of Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) voicing his support of the protests went viral with over 50 million views across all social platforms. In it, the Senate candidate said he "can think of nothing more American" than taking a knee to protest police brutality.
Boyer doesn't have trouble coming up with an alternative.
"I think there's nothing more American than serving your country," he said. "But that's my opinion."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/veteran-who-suggested-kaepernick-kneel-weighs-in-on-nike).
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