American-Palestinian anti-Israel activist and Women’s March co-organizer Linda Sarsour called for people to rise up against "right-wing Zionists," during her speech at a Wednesday rally in support of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
"We want you to know that we will not be silenced by ‘blue lives matter,’ by white supremacists, by neo-Nazis, by right-wing Zionists," Sarsour shouted to applause from those gathered before the New York City headquarters of the National Football League (NFL). "Expect us anytime there is a fight for justice or a fight against injustice. You better expect us because, we will be there…on the front lines, and that means putting our lives on the lines for justice."
"As Malcolm X said, if you are not ready to put your life on the line for freedom, take that word out of your mouth," she said according to a recording on Soundcloud, paraphrasing a popular line from the Black nationalist leader.
Sarsour made the comments toward the end of her 10-minute speech in praise of "Brother Kap," who she hailed for his sitting on the bench or kneeling while the national anthem was sung before each NFL game last season.
Kaepernick’s actions, which he called a silent protest against racism, provoked national debate. His supporters say he was not picked up this year by any NFL team because of his "activism."
Speakers at this week’s rally, organized by Justice League NYC and Color of Change, called for a boycott of the NFL and league advertiser Verizon unless Kaepernick is given a job before the start of the regular season next month.
Sarsour encouraged the crowd to make the power of the "Black dollar, the Brown dollar, the immigrant dollar" known.
"People are not like us. The powers that be do not care about morality, or integrity, or dignity, or respect of our communities. They only speak one language, and the language is money," she said..
In May 2017, during a lecture at Dartmouth College, Sarsour shut down questions about a tweet of hers reading, "Brigitte Gabriel=Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She’s asking 4 an a$$ whippin’. I wish I could take their vaginas away — they don’t deserve to be women." When a male student confronted Sarsour about the post during a Q&A session, she blew him off as a "young white man" speaking about issues that affect "communities of color" by which he was "not directly impacted."
Listen to Sarsour’s speech below:
Justice League NYC and Color of Change rallied in front of NFL headquarters. Several hundred Kaepernick supporters showed up, holding signs and chanting "I’m with Kap." The event’s speakers took the NFL to task for a lack of racial sensitivity and Kaepernick’s continued unemployment.