Gold star mother Amanda Jacobs slammed former quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a heartfelt speech at the Independence Day “Rally For Freedom” event in Washington.
Amanda Jacobs’ son, Lance Cpl. Christopher Phoenix-Jacob Levy, died on December 10, 2011. He died fighting in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
“When I look at this country today and I tell people, and I’ve wanted to say this loud so many times: Colin Kaepernick was getting paid $14 million dollars a year to throw a ball,” Amanda Jacobs said.
“My son died for $14,000 a year and he’s given more than any football player, any athlete, has ever given.” she continued.
“That’s what we are here for today — not because, you know, I wanted to be a Gold Star mom. I got gold stars in school for making grades.” she added.
“But this Gold Star that I wear every day isn’t for me. It’s because of what my son chose to do — without my permission, trust me. I have a 17-year-old that is doing the same thing, and it’s because of what they believe.”
“I hear these Marines that come to my house — and they stay for four days, you know I’ve got 30 Marines that sleep on my floor, and it’s great — but they tell us that the only thing that kept them going is when they could look up and see that flag,” she said.
“They had hope to go back home to, and a hope that this country was going to change for the better — not for the worse.”
“My son’s words were, ‘Mom, I’m not fighting for the ones in the White House. I’m fighting for you and my brothers in this yellow house.” Amanda Jacobs said.
