Colin Kaepernick’s name was yanked from a resolution honoring Black History Month in Wisconsin following an outcry from Republican lawmakers.
GOPers in the state Assembly refused to pass the legislation acknowledging prominent black Americans on Tuesday — until Democrats agreed to remove the former NFL quarterback’s name, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Milwaukee Rep. David Crowley, a Democrat, slammed the decision as “a textbook example of white privilege” and a “slap in the face.”
“It is critical for this body to recognize the black caucus and recognize the resolution we put forward,” Crowley said on the Assembly floor. “Many of these people that you don’t agree with will still be in the history books that your children and grandchildren will be reading.”
Crowley said he was ultimately pleased that the resolution was passed but noted “I had to get the blessing of all my white counterparts.”
Kaepernick — then a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers — found himself at the center of a contentious debate after he knelt during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality against blacks.
The 31-year-old athlete, who was born in Milwaukee, hasn’t played in the NFL since that season.
He was criticized as unpatriotic — but defended by supporters who said he was exercising his First Amendment right.
The former gridiron star was among two dozen other black Americans set to be honored by the Wisconsin resolution for February’s Black History Month. Other names included former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and baseball legend Reggie Jackson.
Jim Steineke, the Assembly majority leader from Kaukauna, said GOPers wouldn’t approve the resolution including Kaepernick for “obvious reasons.”
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, called for a resolution comprised of names of uncontroversial figures, so that the entire caucus could agree on it.
“I think it’s important to recognize the contributions of literally thousands and thousands of African-Americans to our state’s history but also trying to find people who, again, bring us together. Not look at people who draw some sort of vitriol from either side,” Vos said.