An NFL Quarterback wanted to get your attention. So he started taking a knee during the national anthem.
The country went crazy. Soon people were calling Colin Kaepernick the “n” word on social media, the death threats started rolling in, and the flag started popping up on Facebook posts across America.
But during all this hysteria you may have missed what happened Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
That was Terence Crutcher, 40, who was shot and killed Friday after his car stalled in the middle of the roadway. He waved down police to ask for help. They immediately had him place his hands on his head. There was no weapon on him, or in his vehicle, he wasn’t running away from any crime.
Then a white police officer shot him.
As he lay dying on the road, the half dozen white officers waited more than two minutes before administering any aid.
“It’s very disturbing, very difficult to watch.” said Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan. “I will just make this promise to you: We will achieve justice in this case. I want to assure our community and I want to assure all of you and people across the nation who are going to be looking at this: We will achieve justice ― period.”
The Justice Department is now investigating.
At least 15 African Americans have died during encounters with the police since Kaepernick took his first knee. That number should give all of us pause.
Meanwhile, the vilified Kaepernick is doing more than just protesting. He’s donating a million dollars — $100,000 a month for the next year — to various causes and charities, all while raising awareness of a big problem we have a tendency to sweep underneath the flag.
Terence Crutcher, right, with his twin sister Tiffany. Crutcher, an unarmed black man was killed by a white Oklahoma officer, who was responding to a stalled vehicle.