Colin Kaepernick Comments on National Anthem Protest, Donald Trump and More

The Chicago Bears will host the San Francisco 49ers in a Week 13 matchup Sunday, and media from the Windy City took time Wednesday to ask Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick if he's worried about President-elect Donald Trump's administration potentially punishing silent national anthem protesters in the future.

"No, I'm not concerned about that at all," Kaepernick said, according to CSN Chicago's John Mullin. "To me, if things go down that path, those are human-rights issues. Patriotism is earned; it's not something you demand. For me, I don't see those as issues. I'll continue on my path as I have planned."

Kaepernick's response came a day after Trump called for people who burn the American flag to be punished in a post on Twitter:

Despite Trump's suggestion, the U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled flag burning was protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Kaepernick—who has protested during the national anthem over social injustice—also explained that his protest does not solely center around the mistreatment of minorities by police. 

"I've been very clear from the beginning that I'm against systematic oppression," he said, per Mullin. "Police violence is just one of the symptoms of that oppression. For me, that is something that needs to be addressed, but it's not the whole issue."

Kaepernick has pledged $1 million in his fight against social injustice. He detailed the first two rounds of donations—which have totaled $200,000—on his website.

Kaepernick pledged $25,000 of his $100,000 in donations in November to the Chicago-based Black Youth Project, which will go toward local organizing projects and the creation of educational materials.