WOODLAWN— Colin Kaepernick’s pledge to direct jersey sales from his 2016 season to nonprofits fighting for equality will soon help the Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation group expand their efforts.
Ever since the San Francisco 49ers quarterback took a knee during the National Anthem last year to send the message that racial oppression in the United States needs to end, he has been on a mission to bring awareness to the ongoing issue of discrimination.
One of his tactics was launching the Million Dollar Pledge last year through his foundation.
“I will donate one million dollars plus all the proceeds of my jersey sales from the 2016 season to organizations working in oppressed communities, $100,000 a month for 10 months,” he posted on his website.
The Chicago organization received $25,000.
Organizer Willie Preston said that his group appreciates what Kaepernick did.
“I think a lot of folks in my group, and many other organizations, are really happy that [him] simply taking a knee drew so much attention towards a much needed discussion about police violence in America,” Preston said. “I can certainly say [we] appreciate him being able to generate that much attention to this issue. It wasn't receiving nearly as much attention as it deserved.”
Preston said that the funding will be a big help for the future of his organization. One of their plans is to use it to form a council for teenagers and provide skill-building training, he said.
It’s no secret that Chicago has an issue with violence, Preston said, which his group wants to address.
“Violence is not a symptom of violence, violence is a symptom of something deeper,” he said.
Another problem the group plans to address is the recent rash of police-involved shootings, he said, adding that he thinks Kaepernick recognizes that as a central issue as well.
Preston added that some people have wrongly characterized Kaepernick as someone who hates police.
“I don’t think he hates police at all,” Preston said, but he recognizes that over-policing in black communities needs to be addressed.
Preston says his organization also isn’t anti-police, but it wants justice for instances where officers behave inappropriately.
“Seventy-four percent of the stops made are made on black people, despite the fact that it’s more likely cops will find contraband on white people,” Preston said.
The goal for the group using Kaepernick's donation is to continue their efforts and add more people to their service network, he said.
“We don’t want to simply speak about these things, but we want to actually address these issues,” Preston said.
The $25,000 donation will specifically go to the following:
• $15,000 – Funding for the "Decarcerate Chicago: Campaign to end mass incarceration and over-criminalization of communities of color in Illinois."
• $5,000 – Funding for curriculum development and implementation of disciplined leadership/ organizing/direct action training with an intentional racial-justice lens for current organizers of color, youth activists and those wishing to engage in the movement.
• $5,000 – Covering the cost of supplies, materials, marketing, media and transportation for direct actions, events and public meetings.
RELATED: Will Colin Kaepernick Stand At Soldier Field? Veterans Say He Should
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
