Colin Kaepernick joins Oakland high school football team in protest

Colin Kaepernick joined an Oakland high school football team in solidarity on Friday.

Colin Kaepernick joined an Oakland high school football team in solidarity on Friday night, speaking to players in the locker room and kneeling during the national anthem as they protested.

Castlemont high school players laid on the sidelines, on their backs with their hands up before the game in protest of police brutality and racial injustice. The 49ers quarterback kneeled alongside them.

“You are important,” he told players after the game. “You make a difference. This matters. Everything you do matters. Look out for one another, lift each other up. That’s what this is all about. I had to come support y’all, because the same way y’all took a stand and stood with me, I had to come out here and stand with y’all. So I appreciate what y’all did. I love y’all. Y’all my brothers, I’m here with you.”

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLK_ON_DBRM]

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

The Castlemont Knights during the National Anthem before last Friday's football game in Oakland: pic.twitter.com/AJvsP3maDR

— Castlemont Football (@CastlemontFB) September 20, 2016

Colin Kaepernick supporting the Castlemont Knights football team at tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/Aouav2wVTa

— Castlemont Football (@CastlemontFB) September 24, 2016

During last week’s game, Castlemont players chose to kneel during the national anthem, mirroring Kaepernick’s ongoing protest and garnering some local attention, according to ESPN.

Kaepernick’s decision to kneel has helped spark a dialogue across the NFL and sports at large about race relations, particularly involving police officers and their conduct.