Colin Kaepernick announced the start of a new initiative to offer free second autopsies to family members of anyone whose death is “police-related.” The Autopsy Initiative, offered through Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp organization, will provide free, secondary autopsies conducted by board-certified pathologists who will disclose the preliminary findings and issue the final autopsy reports to families.
The former NFL quarterback offered a few words about his new initiative.
“We know that the prison industrial complex, which includes police and policing, strives to protect and serve its interests at all costs,” Kaepernick said in a statement sent to Newsweek. “The Autopsy Initiative is one important step toward ensuring that family members have access to accurate and forensically verifiable information about the cause of death of their loved one in their time of need.”
Pathology coordinator Dr. Cyril Wecht was excited about this news:
“I am extremely enthusiastic about this truly unique program,” said Dr. Cyril Wecht, one of the pathologists on the initiative’s panel. “The opportunity to have unbiased second autopsies performed by independent, experienced forensic pathologists in police-related deaths will provide victims’ families with knowledge that the true facts of any such case have been thoroughly analyzed and prepared for appropriate utilization whenever deemed necessary.”
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has been the most vocal protester within the NFL when it comes to police brutality and racial inequality in the U.S. It ultimately cost him his career after he spent the 2016 season kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem, which was intended to raise awareness of police brutality against minorities.
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But as Kaepernick’s protests gained popularity, he caught hell from others that included President Donald Trump. No NFL team has since signed him to a contract.
Kaepernick and former teammate Eric Reid filed collusion grievances against the NFL, arguing they were blackballed due to protests during the national anthem at games.
Reid would go on to play again, but not since the 2019 season.
In 2020, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was wrong “for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest.”
