Colin Kaepernick: Quarterback says he has received death threats

By Eoghan Macguire, CNN

Updated 1230 GMT (2030 HKT) September 22, 2016

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Photos: NFL players protest during national anthem

Colin Kaepernick (right) and Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem on September 12, 2016, in Santa Clara, California.

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Photos: NFL players protest during national anthem

Seattle Seahawks' Jeremy Lane sits as the national anthem plays before a preseason match against the Oakland Raiders on September 1, 2016, in Oakland.

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Photos: NFL players protest during national anthem

Kenny Britt and Robert Quinn of the Los Angeles Rams raise their fists prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers on September 12, 2016, in Santa Clara.

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Photos: NFL players protest during national anthem

Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall kneels on the sideline during the national anthem before a game against the Carolina Panthers in Denver on September 8, 2016.

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Photos: NFL players protest during national anthem

From left, Miami Dolphins' Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas and Kenny Stills kneel during the singing of the national anthem before a game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 11, 2016.

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Story highlights

Kaepernick: Racism disguised as patriotism
NFL star has been protesting racial inequality
Controversially knelt during US anthem

(CNN)At the vanguard of debate about racial inequality in recent weeks, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he has received death threats for making his views known.

Kaepernick has refused to stand for the "Star Spangled Banner" before NFL games, instead sitting or taking a knee, to protest against what he has previously described as racist police practice and the continued oppression of black people in America.

Read: The NFL's protest crisis

The death threats have come from a "couple of different avenues" including social media Kaepernick told reporters Tuesday, in comments carried by CSN Bay Area.

#enoughisenough from @realjohngray - A terrorist in New Jersey bombs New York has a shoot out with cops and gets grazed with a bullet. And safely arrested. A man with car trouble in Tulsa gets TAZED then shot. And then they stand there. Don't offer him aid, comfort, nothing. No gun. No criminal activity. And I've heard people say "he should have complied". As if that has ANYTHING TO DO WITH KILLING AN UNARMED MAN. Stop making excuses. His color got him killed. If that was a well dressed non-black female, do you think the helicopter pilot would have said "she looks like a bad person" in the same manner they said Terrance Crutcher "looks like a bad person"? Of course not. His color was the only thing that made him bad. From 500 feet in the air. I'm tired man. And I'm scared. Cuz I'm big and my skin is brown. Lord don't let my car break down, don't let me be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don't let me reach for my phone or do anything threatening. Jesus help THIS NATION.

A photo posted by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) on Sep 20, 2016 at 4:18pm PDT

When asked about whether somebody were to act upon the specific threats made towards him, Kapaernick said "it will be loud and clear for everyone why it happened, and that would move this movement forward at a greater speed than what it is even now."