On Tuesday night, Colin Kaepernick was honored by Sports Illustrated with the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award.
Kaepernick accepted the award for his fight against racial inequality during SI’s Sportsperson of the Year ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Kaepernick, who many believe has been blackballed by the NFL for his protests which started a sweeping movement around the country, was presented the award by Beyonce.
Upon receiving the award, Kaepernick vowed to continue fighting for racial inequality “with our without the NFL’s” help.
“I say this as a person who receives credit for using my platform to protest systemic oppression, racialized injustice and and the dire consequences of anti-blackness in America,” Kaepernick said, via Sports Illustrated.
“I accept this award not for myself, but on behalf of the people. Because if it were not for my love of the people, I would not have protested. And if it was not for the support from the people, I would not be on this stage today.
“With our without the NFL’s platform, I will continue to work for the people because my platform is the people.”
‘With or without the NFL’s platform, I will continue to work for the people’@Kaepernick7 receives SI’s Muhammad Ali Legacy award #Sportsperson https://t.co/3wqaUVYZnf pic.twitter.com/dKJNX0d8vi
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 6, 2017
Other athletes honored at the award ceremony were Houston stars J.J. Watt and Jose Altuve as the SI Sportsperson of the Year for their efforts to help Hurricane Harvey relief in Houston, Carlos Beltran received the Hope Award for helping to aid Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Maya Moore who earned Performer of the Year and the Rising Star, Joel Embiid.
The full ceremony will air Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports.
Congratulations to all of the award recipients for their outstanding efforts to make a difference off the field.
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