My dad was a marine and you've got my respect. But Kaepernick's uniform doesn't mean what yours does. He's a civilian entertainer, and kneeling was an exercise of his right to free speech.

The irony I see is that this was the very definition of peaceful protest. When people rally to protest, cops show up in force. When a single dude takes a knee, that's too much for them to bear? Irony, indeed.

This week's reporting is documentation of the abuses that he was protesting. Have you seen it? The police have all the trappings of the military, with none of the discipline. I almost think we'd be better off if y'all were standing by at these protests, because you at least understand and follow rules of engagement.

Politicians and police say that peaceful protest is tolerated, but not for Kaepernick. And not for, unfortunately, thousands of peaceful protesters, medics, journalists, legal observers and, goddammit, those essential workers going about their legal business -- all who were kettled, beaten, shot, and gassed.