San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneels for the national anthem along with some teammates before the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. (Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and outside linebacker Eli Harold (58) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
In this Dec. 11, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) passes against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
In this Sept. 1, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) plays during a preseason NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks to hand off during warmups before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick shakes hands with fans after the 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 31-21 during an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/AP)
NEW YORK — Free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been named GQ’s magazine’s “Citizen of the Year” for his activism.
Kaepernick began kneeling instead of stand during the national anthem last season to protest racial inequality and police brutality. The demonstration sparked an ongoing wave of NFL protests by players during the anthem that have been repeatedly denounced by President Donald Trump. Kaepernick parted ways with the 49ers in March and hasn’t been signed by another team.
Kaepernick says on Twitter he’s “honored” by the recognition.
The magazine includes comments from several of Kaepernick’s supporters and confidants. Rapper J. Cole says Kaepernick “sacrificed his dream” to stand for something. Ninety-year-old singer and activist Harry Belafonte says seeing people like Kaepernick taking action is “the greatest reward” he could ask for.
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