Virginia Men's Basketball Team Kneels in Support of Colin Kaepernick Protest

The University of Virginia men's basketball team became the latest group to show support for the effort led by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to promote awareness for racial injustice. 

Cavaliers guard London Perrantes posted a picture on social media Thursday night showing the players taking a knee with their arms linked together:

Kaepernick sparked a national conversation in August when he refused to stand for the national anthem during the NFL preseason. He explained the reasoning behind the decision, which drew both praise and criticism, to Steve Wyche of NFL.com.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he said. "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."

Fellow quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints is among those who've spoke out against the manner of protest. He told Mike Triplett of ESPN.com in August he supported the overall message, but he didn't think using the anthem to draw attention to the cause was the right move.

"I disagree. I wholeheartedly disagree," Brees said. "Not that he wants to speak out about a very important issue. No, he can speak out about a very important issue. But there's plenty of other ways that you can do that in a peaceful manner that doesn't involve being disrespectful to the American flag."

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama stated during a town hall event with CNN this week that it's important for everybody to understand both sides of the conversation before taking a hardline stance:

One thing's for sure: The support for Kaepernick's efforts continues to grow across the sports spectrum.

United States women's national team midfielder Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem before representing the country in a friendly against Thailand on Sept. 15. USA Today passed along comments she made on ESPN following the match: "I'm very proud to pull on this shirt and play for this country, and also represent my country in a different way in speaking out for people that are oppressed."

While that's a high-profile example, the issue has extended all the way to the high school level. Last week, Kirk Morrison of ESPN Los Angeles provided a picture of the Castlemont High School football team in Oakland, California, protesting before a game with Kaepernick in attendance:

"

Kaepernick came to Oakland, CA. He kneeled on one knee, players laid on their back with hands up during the Anthem. pic.twitter.com/Cae4sTopac

— Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison) September 24, 2016"

Now, Virginia's basketball team is making an early statement as it gets prepared for the start of a new season. The Cavaliers are scheduled to kick off the 2016-17 campaign against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro on Nov. 11, and their actions during the anthem before that contest will be watched closely.