Ginsburg reconsiders her comments about 'dumb and disrespectful' national anthem protest
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. ABA Journal file photo by Sam Kittner.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made news when she said the national anthem protest by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is “dumb and disrespectful.”
Now Ginsburg says she shouldn’t have commented, report the Associated Press, CNN and USA Today. Ginsburg said her remarks were “inappropriately dismissive and harsh” and she commented even though she was “barely aware of the incident or its purpose.”
Ginsburg had criticized Kaepernick in an interview with Yahoo’s Katie Couric while promoting a new compilation of her own writings called My Own Words. Kaepernick has said he is not standing for the anthem because of the country’s treatment of minorities.
Here is Ginsburg’s full statement: “Some of you have inquired about a book interview in which I was asked how I felt about Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who refused to stand for the national anthem. Barely aware of the incident or its purpose, my comments were inappropriately dismissive and harsh. I should have declined to respond.”
AP notes Ginsburg’s statement is the second time she decided she shouldn’t have commented. She also has said she regrets her comments criticizing Donald Trump.
