In an interview published by Yahoo News yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg weighed in on the Colin Kaepernick controversy and didn’t mince any words on what she thought about the quarterback’s protest.
“I think it’s dumb and disrespectful. I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning. I think it’s a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn’t lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act.”
The 83-year-old justice went on to say, “If they want to be stupid, there’s no law that should be preventive,” Ginsburg said. “If they want to be arrogant, there’s no law that prevents them from that. What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that.”
Kaepernick is no stranger to criticism with Donald Trump and police unions denouncing his actions but Justice Ginsburg’s comments surprised the public. Several people took to Twitter to criticize Justice Ginsburg statements and suggest that she speak to the issue of inequality instead of Kaepernick’s effort to bring attention to it.
Kaepernick will start as quarterback for the 49ers on Sunday’s game against Buffalo.