San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked national controversy when he sat down on a sideline bench during the national anthem last month before a preseason game.

Despite his decision to kneel  during the national anthem at subsequent games, the common criticism of Kaepernick is that he is disrespecting America and everyone who has fought for our country.

But this logic is fundamentally flawed because peaceful protest is protected under the First Amendment.

People criticizing his actions probably consider themselves patriots and their common response is along the lines of, “If you don’t like this country then leave.”

Kaepernick doesn’t like the way many citizens experience injustice, so should he just move to another country? That doesn’t seem very patriotic to me.

What’s more patriotic: speaking against injustice or abandoning your country? Patriotism is using your platform to fight against injustice for the better of this country and its citizens.

It’s very important to remember the third verse of the Star Spangled Banner, the song Kaepernick chose to kneel to, includes the lyrics, “Their blood has wash’d out their foul footsteps pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave.”

Even though only the first verse of the song is sung at sporting events, what does it say about a country if the nation’s anthem contains racist rhetoric?

It says racism is in the DNA of America. It should shed light on the fact that racism is not a problem of the past.

The list of victims of police brutality include Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Korryn Gaines, and Terrence Crutcher. The list continues to grow, as does the unrest of those being targeted.

People of color are unfairly profiled and subsequently killed by the people who are supposed to be protecting them. Now, people are no longer choosing to be silent about their unrest with the situation.

People have taken the focus of the conversation Kaepernick is starting away from the injustice in this country and centered it on a song, which is disgusting.

Instead of doing the victims of police brutality the justice of having their stories told, some people have chosen to make this about a song. In what way exactly is that patriotism?

As best said by Kaepernick in an interview with the Guardian, “There’s a lot of racism in this country disguised as patriotism.”

The reason for this is because historically they have been virtually synonymous, and that has to change.  What is the point of a democracy then if not to cater to the needs of its citizens? What exactly is the point of living in a free state if you can’t exercise your freedoms?

Our country has only experienced change as a result of protest. People in power can only listen if we are speaking loudly enough for them to hear, or acting so publicly that they cannot ignore.

It is our responsibility in a democracy to speak against injustice as we see it and use our platforms to put it to an end.

That is patriotism, and that is exactly what Kaepernick is doing.