Former All-Pro wide receiver Chad Johnson says players kneeling during the national anthem now is "completely different" than when Colin Kaepernick started his protest in 2016.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Johnson said protesting during the national anthem has been "politically whitewashed from why it started in the first place."
When Kaepernick originally started his protest during the 2016 season, he told Steve Wyche of NFL.com it was in response to police brutality and racial injustice across the country.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick said.