Parents of NFL players Colin Kaepernick and his father, who is a Chicago Bears player, have a new lawsuit filed against the NFL over the controversial quarterback’s use of a black-and-white jersey.
The lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago by Colin Kaepernick, his parents, the San Francisco 49ers, and NFL Players Association members and their representatives contends that the NFL has engaged in a “scheme to prevent Kaepernick from representing the U.N. and raising awareness of racism in the league.”
The suit, which names Colin Kaepernick as a plaintiff, seeks an injunction preventing the NFL from engaging in any conduct that prevents Kaepernick from “obtaining and using the NFLPA’s endorsement to raise awareness of racist violence and discrimination.”
The lawsuit also cites Kaepernick’s use, in 2015, of the N-word on the team’s national anthem before the NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers.
In his complaint, Kaepernick’s attorney says the NFL’s sponsorship of the Kaepernick jersey was intended to provide a “direct connection” between the NFL and the Kaepernick family, and that Kaepernick’s father was a key supporter of the team.
The suit alleges that Kaepernick used the jersey to promote his “Black Lives Matter” campaign, and the NFL, as the sponsor of the jersey, had a “political motive” in supporting the campaign, the Associated Press reported.
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Kaepernick family is seeking unspecified damages.
Kaepernick was released from the 49ers in May after the league announced he was suspending his contract.
