49ers Reportedly Donating $1 Million Toward Groups Addressing Social Inequities

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly pledged to donate $1 million to two groups in Northern California that address social inequality, according to ESPN's Jim Trotter. 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirmed the news Thursday and added that the donations will be made to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and The San Francisco Foundation. 

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network provided a statement from 49ers owner Jed York:

The 49ers' gesture comes on the heels of quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision to remain seated for the national anthem before preseason games in a silent protest against social injustice. 

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media's Steve Wyche. "To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

After Kaepernick took a knee during "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the 49ers' final preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, he told reporters he planned to donate $1 million of his 2016 salary to community organizations.

"I’ve been very blessed to be in this position and to be able to make the kind of money that I do and I have to help these people," Kaepernick said, per USA Today's Josh Peter. "It’s not right that they’re not put in the position to succeed or given those opportunities to success."

Kaepernick has also pledged to donate all of the proceeds from his jersey sales—which have spiked to the top of the NFL charts, according to ESPN.com—to communities in need: 

The motivation behind Kaepernick's actions has resonated with several other NFL players.

Not only did Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sit for the national anthem during his team's final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, but the rest of his teammates have also reportedly discussed a unified teamwide protest when they host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, according to ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia. 

"Anything that we want to do, it's not going to be individual," Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner said, per Kapadia. "It's going to be a team thing because that's what the world needs to see. The world needs to see people coming together versus being individuals."