Two NFL players join Kaepernick's national anthem protest: Crowd boos 49ers quarterback after he kneels alongside team mate and Seahawks player in demonstration against 'inequality' in the US 

Colin Kaepernick has insisted he is not 'anti-American' after he refused to stand up for the national anthem yet again, but promised to donate his first $1million earned this season to community organizations.  

The controversial quarterback knelt down as a black Navy sailor sang The Star Spangled Banner ahead of the San Francisco 49ers final pre-season game in San Diego on Thursday night.

Kaepernick's teammate, safety Eric Reid, 24, also stayed down during the anthem while the Seattle Seahawks 26- year-old cornerback, Jeremy Lane, chose to sit on the bench before his game in Oakland. 

After the game, the $19million-a-year Kaepernick insisted he 'loved America' and expressed his gratitude to the military. 

The quarterback cited numerous reasons for his actions, ranging from racial injustice and minority oppression to police brutality and the treatment of military veterans.   

Vowing to continue his stand, he said: 'The dream result would be equality, justice for everybody.'

His refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice last week when he remained seated on the 49ers' bench before a preseason match against Green Bay. 

Scroll down for videos 

Colin Kaepernick refused to stand up during the singing of the national anthem yet again ahead of the San Francisco 49ers' pre-season game in San Diego

He was seen behind members of the armed forces as they were honored by the Chargers on their annual military night

After the game Kaepernick insisted his stance has been taken out of context and claimed he was not 'anti-American'

Video courtesy: KRON

Kaepernick and Reid knelt during the national anthem before the 49ers' 31-21 preseason victory over San Diego, ignoring boos and angry shouts in Qualcomm Stadium at the Chargers' Salute to the Military preseason game. 

Reid, who played college football for Louisiana State University, told reporters earlier this week that there is an 'issue in this country with minorities.' 

'I think it would be foolish if you were to say there isn't an issue in this country with minorities,' Reid, who is African-American said. 

'There's a million issues in America and this is something he feels strongly about and I respect him for voicing his opinion on it.'

The 49ers' safety shocked some by joining Kaepernick, including the team's head coach. 

Chip Kelly, who was hired by the 49ers as head coach back in January, told reporters after the game that he was unaware that Reid would not stand during the national anthem.   

'I was not aware of that,' Kelly said of Reid. 'All I was aware of was that Nate Boyer was going to be out there.'

He also did not discuss Kaepernick's status on the team directly, only stating that he's there to coach the football team.

Speaking in a press conference, he announced he would be donating the first $1million he earns this season to organizations to help deal with 'injustices'

The quarterback knelt down beside the bench as a black sailor sang The Star Spangled Banner last night

He was seen with a knee on the ground as the rest of the players and personnel around him remained standing 

Kaepernick's teammate, safety Eric Reid (circled left), also knelt down during the anthem

Kaepernick said he plans to continue his protests during the regular season and was proud of the two other NFL players who joined his protest.

Speaking after the game he said: 'I'm not anti-American. I love America. I love people. That's why I'm doing this. I want to help make America better, and I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from.'

The quarterback said he was protesting because of racial injustice and minority oppression, as well as police brutality. 

He said he would donate the first $1million he earns this season to 'different organizations to help these communities and help these people,' declining to provide specifics.

'I am planning to take it a step further, I'm currently working with organizations to be involved, and making sure I'm actively in these communities, as well as donating the first million dollars I make this year to different organizations to help these communities and help these people,' he said.

'I've been very blessed to be in this position and make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people. I have to help these communities. 

'It's not right that they're not put in the position to succeed, or given the opportunities to succeed.

'The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with. We have a lot of people that are oppressed. 

'We have a lot of people that aren't treated equally, that aren't given equal opportunities. Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of issues that need to be talked about.'

The two players (Kaepernick wearing 7 and Reid in the black sweater) were seen kneeling while the military spread the colors of the flag across the field 

The Star Spangled Banner was sung by a black sailor before the start of the game as members of the armed forces were honored 

His teammate Reid said: 'I just wanted to show my support for him. He wanted to make it clear that he wasn't trying to be disrespectful to the military or the national anthem, so he decided to change his position to be more respectful, but still bring awareness to the issues that he believes are going on in this country, and that I wholeheartedly believe exist in this country.'

Up north in Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane showed his support for Kaepernick by sitting on the bench during the anthem.

Lane, who played collegiate football at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, said he doesn't know Kaepernick, but was 'standing behind him.'

'It's something I plan to keep on doing until I feel like justice has been served. No, I didn't tell anyone I was going to do it. I just did it. ... I don't mean no disrespect toward anybody, but I'm just standing behind what I believe', he remarked. 

He added that he had been thinking about sitting out during the national anthem for the a while.  

'I thought about it for a week or so and I just think it's okay for me to do it,' Lane said. 

He also noted that he didn't tell his teammates or the head coach Pete Carroll of his plan to sit through a performance by saxophone player Mike Phillips. 

In another pre-season game, Seattle Seahawks player Jeremy Lane (left and circled right) joined in the protest ahead of their clash with the Oakland Raiders

Lane (above) said that he had been thinking about sitting out during the national anthem for the a while

'Nah, I didn't tell anyone was going to do it, I just did it,' Lane, who signed a $23million four-year contract with the team in the offseason said. 

He added that he is prepared for whatever backlash or controversy comes his way for joining Kaepernick.

In regards to Lane's actions, Carroll called it 'an individual thing,' and said he could not discuss what he thinks if Lane continues to sit during the anthem.  

'But I am really proud of the progress we are making in the conversation and I look forward to continuing it with our guys,' Carroll said. 

'It's really important for us to understand and to be smart about what we are doing and how we handle our business. 

'And we have, like I have been telling you, we have a great group of guys that lead this team and they are going to help us as we move forward.'

When Kaepernick left the field following pregame warmups, he was greeted with profanity and obscene gestures from Leo Uzcategui, a 20-year Navy veteran. 

He shakes the hand of Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget after the game with a smile on his face 

A group of fans who backed Kaepernick and his actions stayed at the end of the game to take a selfie with the quarterback 

Colin Kaepernick wore socks showing pigs as cops to 'highlight the problem of rogue cops'

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked a wave of controversy when he refused to stand for the national anthem last week.

He said he would not show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses people of color, citing police brutality against black men – and now, it appears he is even using his socks to make political statements.

Pictures surfaced on Twitter on Thursday that showed Kaepernick wearing socks patterned with images of pigs wearing what appear to be police hats – in a reference to the crude nickname for law enforcement officers.

The pictures were taken at an NFL football training camp at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium on August 10.

 On Thursday afternoon, Kaerpernick addressed the socks in a post on Instagram.

He wrote: 'I wore these socks, in the past, because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust.

'I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and work to protect and serve ALL people.

'So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately.'

Meanwhile, Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, slammed the NFL for allowing Kaerpernick to wear the socks.

He said: 'It’s just ridiculous that the same league that prohibits the Dallas [Cowboys] football club from honoring the slain officers in their community with their uniforms stands silent when Kaepernick is dishonoring police officers with what he’s wearing on the field.

'I think the league is in a downward spiral regarding their obligations to the public under Roger Goodell, and this is just another example of that.'

Earlier on Thursday, Kaepernick was criticized for wearing socks depicting pigs in police uniforms on the sides

'I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag,' Uzcategui said. 'If he wants to do something, go to some outreach program where he can do some good. 

'And I get it, his First Amendment right. But you don't sit during the presenting of the colors, and you don't sit during the national anthem. That is not the way to do it.'

A sign in the crowd read: 'You're an American. Act like one.'

Republican nominee Donald Trump has called his protest a 'terrible thing'.

The billionaire said: 'Maybe he should find a country that works better for him, let him try, it's not gonna happen.'

NFL executives have reportedly said they 'hate' the $19million-a-year University of Nevada recruit and have branded him a traitor. 

He drew further fury by wearing socks with pigs depicted as police officers during one of his pre-game routines. 

In a statement the San Francisco Police Officer's Association called him 'misinformed' and demanded an apology.

San Francisco's former police chief resigned in May under pressure from the city's mayor following the second of two recent high-profile police killings of black suspects and amid criticism over racist text messages sent by officers in the department. 

He signed autographs after the game which the 49ers won 31-21. They will begin the regular season on September 11

The 28-year-old was booed as he ran onto the field for warm-ups ahead of the San Francisco 49ers last pre-season game

The crowd jeered at the player (wearing number 7) as he stepped out on the gridiron ahead of military night in San Diego

Kaepernick is the latest black athlete to use the arena as a national platform for protest against racial injustice.  

In the 1995-1996 season, NBA player and Muslim convert Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to salute the US flag during pre-game ceremonies, instead stretching during the national anthem and avoiding looking at the banner, saying it was incompatible with his beliefs.

He was suspended by the league for one game, but his views eroded his fan base. 

Muhammad Ali famously refused to serve in the Vietnam War - which saw him prosecuted for draft evasion and effectively banned from the sport for three years.

There was also the iconic 'Black Power' salute of American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised black-gloved fists while standing on the medal podium at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.

The pair were denouncing racial segregation in America and were reviled for decades before being hailed for their courage to speak out on injustice.

Kaepernick had been sitting out the national anthem in San Francisco's first three preseason games but it was not widely noticed until last Friday's game against Green Bay. 

The use of force by police against African-Americans in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore and New York has sparked periodic and sometimes destructive protests in the past two years and prompted the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Kaepernick, 28, has drawn fierce criticism for refusing to stand during 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before the 49ers' National Football League preseason games this year

Kaepernick, seen walking down the tunnel at the Qualcomm Stadium, ahead of warmups, had been sitting out the national anthem in San Francisco's first three preseason games but it was not widely noticed until last Friday. He continued doing so in Thursday night's game

Kaepernick does not intend his stance to be a criticism of the military. 

When the Chargers' public-address announcer asked fans to recognize active military personnel during a timeout, the quarterback stood and enthusiastically applauded along with his teammates and the entire stadium.

He said: 'I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put themselves in harm's way for my freedom of speech, and my freedoms in this country, and my freedom to take a seat or take a knee.

'So I have the utmost respect for them, and I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way.' 

While negative reaction to the quarterback has been strong, Kaepernick also has been widely praised for his commitment to his stance. 

Veterans and military members tweeted their support for Kaepernick in recent days under the hashtag 'VeteransForKaepernick.'

He said: 'It was something I was thinking about to make sure that I'm not just talking about something, but I'm actively being involved and actively trying to make a change in these communities.

'I've been very blessed to be in this position and be able to make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people.' 

The 49ers' Thursday away game against the San Diego Chargers was the team's last preseason contest before the regular season begins. 

Kaepernick is seen with his arms out ahead of his team's last pre-season game before the regular season

Kaepernick was captured sitting down during the national anthem before the game against the Green Bay Packers last Friday