Kaepernick helps start defence fund for arrested Floyd protesters

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has helped start a fund to provide defense lawyers for those who are arrested in Minneapolis protesting the police killing of George Floyd. Photo: Reuters

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has helped start a fund to provide defense lawyers for those who are arrested in Minneapolis protesting the police killing of George Floyd. Photo: Reuters

Published May 31, 2020

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LOS ANGELES - Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has

helped start a fund to provide defense lawyers for those who are

arrested in Minneapolis protesting the police killing of George

Floyd.

Kaepernick has created the Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense

Initiative web page, which says it has identified top lawyers "to

provide legal resources for those in need."

The web page provides resources for protesters, including a form to

fill out if in need of an attorney.

Criminal charges were filed Friday against Derek Chauvin, the white

police officer who held his knee for nearly nine minutes on the neck

of Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed at the time after being

detained on suspicion of trying to pass a counterfeit 20-dollar bill.

Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree

manslaughter.

Chauvin and three other officers at the scene of Floyd's death were

fired after video showed their encounter with Floyd, who did not

appear to be resisting arrest as police reported. No charges have

been filed against the other officers.

Kaepernick, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2016 with the San

Francisco 49ers, was at the center of protests about racial and

social injustice after he knelt during the national anthem before

games.

In February, the league settled a grievance filed by Kaepernick and

former 49ers teammate Eric Reid.

The web page created for Kaepernick's legal assistance includes a

quote from Malcolm X: "Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to

teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of

brutal attacks."

dpa

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