(SAN FRANCISCO) — With the NFL regular season starting, much attention has been brought to many of the players and their behaviors. One player in particular, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has recently been surrounded with controversy because he refuses stand up for the National Anthem due to his political opinions.

There have been many different reactions towards the player’s behavior on the St. Paul’s campus, but most of them have been negative. Many people see this action as disrespectful towards American society and the people who serve it.

“While I respect his first amendment right to freedom of speech,” junior Jordan Edney said, “I don’t believe what he did was right, because although this country isn’t perfect, he should respect the patriots that fought for this country that allow him to make $20 million a year playing a game.”

Kaepernick claims he did this because he couldn’t respect a country that discriminates against African Americans. However, after all the protest that ensued, Kaepernick kneeled instead of sat to show his respect for the American military, but not America as a whole.

“Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem outrages me,” pre-freshman Dawson Cobb said. “He is making no difference to the oppression of blacks that he says is the reason he won’t stand.”

Although most people don’t agree with what he’s doing, many people still respect his opinion. Many people, in fact, have the same opinions towards police brutality, and the events surrounding the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Others agree with why he’s doing it, but not the manner in which he does it, because it shows disrespect to the country and people that gave him the right to do it.

“I understand why he is doing it,” sophomore Mason Impastato said, “but he is not doing it the way he should be.”

Kaepernick still continues to kneel during the National Anthem. He has shown no sign of stopping, even following protests. Kaepernick has also caused other players in the league to kneel, showing support for the quarterback and his ideas.

Kaepernick along with the 49ers will visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 12 p.m.