Colin Kaepernick discusses why he AGAIN decided to not stand during the National Anthem, this time praising military heroes

After hearing loud and sustained boos directed at him during the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason game against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night, Colin Kaepernick called the crowd’s negative reaction a “misunderstanding.”

Kaepernick, the 49ers quarterback, said the reason he refuses to stand for the national anthem has been distorted. He also said he will donate $1 million to groups that help people affected by the issues he is trying to spotlight — such as racial inequality and police brutality — with his continued protest.

“The media painted this as I’m anti-American, anti-men-and-women of the military and that’s not the case at all,’’ Kaepernick said after playing the first half of the 49ers’ 31-21 victory over the Chargers. “I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put themselves in harm’s way for my freedom of speech and my freedoms in this country and my freedom to take a seat or take a knee so I have the utmost respect for them.

“I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way.’’

Without providing specifics, Kaepernick said he is working with organizations in communities of need that will get the $1 million he makes this year.

“I’ve been very blessed to be in this position and to be able to make the kind of money that I do and I have to help these people,’’ said Kaepernick, whose $11.9 million salary this year has already been guaranteed. “I have to help these communities. It’s not right that they’re not put in the position to succeed or given those opportunities to success.’’

If the game Thursday night is any indication, not everybody will be cheering for Kaepernick regardless of his $1 million pledge or efforts to clarify any misunderstanding.

During the singing of God Bless America he remained standing and applauded. (“Once again, I’m not anti-American,’’ he later told reporters. “I love America.”)

Then Kaepernick, who sat in protest during the anthem Aug. 26 before the 49ers' game against the Green Bay Packers, kneeled before the national anthem.