More NFL players join Kaepernick protest

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continued his national anthem protest of racial injustice before Thursday night’s preseason game against the Chargers, and he was joined by a teammate as well as a player in a different city.

{mosads}Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid dropped to one knee during “The Star-Spangled Banner” in San Diego, leading to scattered boos from the crowd.

The boos grew in volume and force when Kaepernick took the field. The 49ers went on to win, 31-21.

“I’m not anti-American. I love America,” Kaepernick said after the game, according to The Associated Press. “I love people. That’s why I’m doing this. I want to help make America better, and I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from.”

Meanwhile, Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane showed his support for Kaepernick by remaining on the bench during the national anthem before Seattle took on Oakland.

Kaepernick’s protest — for which he has cited issues ranging from police brutality to treatment of veterans — began a week ago before the 49ers took on the Packers. He has drawn criticism from conservatives up to and including GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Reid told the AP that he and Kaepernick thought kneeling might be considered a more respectful form of protest.

“I just wanted to show my support for him,” Reid said. “He wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to the military or the national anthem, so he decided to change his position to be more respectful, but still bring awareness to the issues that he believes are going on in this country, and that I wholeheartedly believe exist in this country.”