Colin Kaepernick Vists Rikers Island, Corrections Union Officials Voice Displeasure

Correction officers voiced their displeasure regarding activist and NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s visit to Rikers Island in order to have a talk with the inmates Tuesday.

According to a report by the New York Post, Kaepernick talked with a group of inmates in two 45-minute sessions at the jail’s George Motchan Detention Center on Tuesday morning. During the session, he focused on the topic of social justice along with his protest where he knelt as the U.S. national anthem was playing during a match.

An officer who was present at the session reportedly said: "That’s crazy to me to have a person like Colin Kaepernick in prison talking about police brutality."

He further went on to say, “It was insulting for me to be there. In the inmate’s eyes, we are the police when they’re locked up.”

The report stated that Kaepernick had breakfast in the warden’s office before he went to the “Peace Center” where he met with prisoners who were wearing gray jumpsuits. The first group consisted of 14 inmates which included six adults and eight adolescents.

The report quoted an unnamed source who introduced Kaepernick said, “They were basic questions, like what’s it like to play in the NFL .”

The source continued, “Then they [inmates] asked him [Kaepernick] about taking a knee, why was he doing it. He said he was doing it to call attention to police brutality. ”

To which Kaepernick replied as stated by the source, “He said he felt that, being a man of means, he felt obligated to take a stance on what he believes in.”

According to the source, the second talk session consisted of four adults and 10 adolescents. During this session, Kaepernick was more forward with his opinions on police brutality.

“He [Kaepernick] came out of the gate with the police brutality… and he said the NFL was keeping him out of the game for speaking out,” stated the source.

The source continued, “He was telling them how they could do better in life, that they’ve made mistakes, that this wasn’t the end for them, that they could go on to do good things .”

However, this action was not perceived positively by corrections union officials. They claimed that “cop hating athlete’s” visit will endanger the members of the union as it will encourage the inmates who see themselves as the victims of a criminal justice system which is corrupt.

Patrick Ferraiuolo, the president of the Correction Captain’s Association said, “The inmates see a guy like this coming in, it’s almost like the administration is condoning being anti-law enforcement .”

He continued, “His presence alone could incite these guys.”

With regards to numerous incidents of violence against guards at Rikers Island, Farraiuolo said, “We’ve got enough issues in the facility with inmates assaulting staff .”

He added, “His presence, what he stands for, certainly doesn’t help.”

According to Peter Thorne, a spokesman for the Department of Correction, Kaepernick came to the jail to “share a message of hope and inspiration.”

Thorne also stated that Kaepernick also visited with uniform and non-uniform employees at the jail.

The report then quoted Elias Husamudeen, president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association who said, “ “This will only encourage inmates to continue to attack Correction Officers at a time when we need more protection.”

Husamudden notified the fact that Kaepernick once wore socks on which police were depicted as pigs. He then blamed Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio for letting Kaepernick enter the jail and talk to the inmates.

Husamudeen said, “Once again, correction officers find themselves caught in Mayor [Bill] de Blasio’s political con-game .”

He added, “This is yet another brazen display of the hypocrisy of this mayor who pretends to support us in public, yet does everything possible to jeopardize our security in private.”

However, City Hall spokesman Eric Phillips defended Kaepernick’s visit and stated, “This is a guy using his celebrity to help young adults turn their lives around, to his own significant professional cost. He should be applauded.”

Colin Kaepernick, in November this year was voted as the GQ’s Citizen of the Year 2017 for his protest against the systemic oppression of the black people through police brutality.