Add Colin Kaepernick’s birth mother to the growing list of people who are upset with the San Francisco 49ers quarterback over his national anthem protest.
Heidi Russo, Kaepernick’s biological mother who gave him up for adoption at birth, expressed disappointment on Twitter earlier this week over the way Kaepernick is expressing his political beliefs.
@Kaepernick7 There's ways to make change w/o disrespecting & bringing shame to the very country & family who afforded you so many blessings.
— Heidi Russo (@Heidirn1) August 27, 2016
@Kaepernick7 The path less traveled doesn't need to be one of destruction. #beenthere #besmarter #berespectful
— Heidi Russo (@Heidirn1) August 27, 2016
Russo has had a number of exchanges with Twitter followers this week, many of whom have ripped her for giving Kaepernick up for adoption. She fired back at some of those critics.
@Erricka88 PLACING my son for adoption is NOT giving up. It's giving him the life he deserved & love beyond comprehension. Congrats 2ur son.
— Heidi Russo (@Heidirn1) August 28, 2016
Love people who wallow in their ignorance and sit on social media in their glass houses throwing stones. #geteducated #adoptionisablessing
— Heidi Russo (@Heidirn1) August 28, 2016
@DrTMG Never said standing up for injustice is wrong. Clearly there's a problem. Don't twist what I said to make a racial point.
— Heidi Russo (@Heidirn1) August 28, 2016
Russo is white, but Kaepernick’s father is black. Kaepernick was adopted by a white man and woman, but he is biracial. Rodney Harrison, who unloaded on Kaepernick Tuesday with some regrettable remarks (read them here), claimed he had no idea Kaepernick’s biological father is black.
When Kaepernick became a star with the 49ers a few years back, Russo expressed an interest in reconnecting with him and being a bigger part of his life. It’s unclear whether that ever happened, but her latest tweets indicate she does not always support every decision Colin makes.
