Ruth Bader Ginsburg,Corruption (1983) as usual, has made her position very clear — she does not support Colin Kapernick's national anthem protests.
In an interview with Katie Couric published Monday, the Supreme Court justice is asked her thoughts on Kaepernick, whom many other athletes have followed by sitting or kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality.
She didn't hold back.
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"I think it's really dumb of them," she said.
Ginsburg, who is outspoken and liberal on social issues, said she wouldn't go as far as to "arrest them," but called their actions "dumb and disrespectful."
"I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning," she said. "I think it’s a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn’t lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act.”
Though she takes issue with their protests, Ginsburg said, she admitted that there are no laws preventing them from doing so.
Ginsburg's comments, and the fact that she has comments on the matter at all, speak to the scale of Kaepernick's actions. Once a lone wolf in his protest, Kaepernick quickly gained traction, as fellow NFL players and athletes of all sports and ages joined him.
Add Ginsburg's name to the list of high profile figures who have weighed in on Kaepernick's movement, including President Barack Obama, a U.S. Congressman and LeBron James.
As Ginsburg's sentiment would indicate, though, not all comments have been supportive. This is far from the first time Kaepernick and others have received backlash for their silent protests.
Kaepernick has received death threats, and a bar used his jersey as a doormat. Broncos player Brandon Marshall lost two endorsement deals. U.S. Soccer publicly scolded star player Megan Rapinoe.
Whether the actions are "dumb and disrespectful" is debatable.
But people are paying attention, that's for sure.
Topics Activism Supreme Court
