Aaron Rodgers Posts Instagram Message in Response to Drew Brees Comments About Colin Kaepernick Protest

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been torn apart online — deservedly so — for maintaining that Colin Kaepernick's peaceful protest during the national anthem was disrespectful to the flag, and Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers called him out in the classiest way possible.

In 2017 when Kaepernick began his peaceful protest, several Packers linked arms during the anthem as a form of protest that they considered more respectful than kneeling. However, as Rodgers pointed out in his post on Instagram, the team was still criticized.

View this post on Instagram

A few years ago we were criticized for locking arms in solidarity before the game. It has NEVER been about an anthem or a flag. Not then. Not now. Listen with an open heart, let’s educate ourselves, and then turn word and thought into action. #wakeupamerica #itstimeforchange #loveoverfear❤️ #solidarity #libertyandjusticeforall #all

A post shared by Aaron Rodgers (@aaronrodgers12) on Jun 3, 2020 at 2:08pm PDT

Rodgers is 100% right. What Brees fails to understand is that his experience in America is a far cry from what black and other non-white people go through. For them, the flag represents the injustices that this country so often fails to protect them from.

.@AaronRodgers12 reminds us that even when #Packers didn't take a knee, but showed unity by locking arms, they were still criticized for "disrespecting the flag"

Again, people like Brees know that kneeing has nothing to do with the flag, it's just a narrative to keep status quo. pic.twitter.com/DRiCEct7h7
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 3, 2020

Protesters have nothing against the American flag or military service members. They are commenting on the systemic disadvantages and violence that face black and brown communities and on the government's failure to address it. Rodgers has the perfect mindset for a white ally right now: listen, get educated, and take action.

Brees and Rodgers have gone head to head on the field plenty of times over the years, but Rodgers' biggest win yet is his social awareness. We're proud of him for standing up for the movement, and we're thankful that Brees's response seems to be an outlier.