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Bruce Springsteen, Colin Kaepernick Honored With New ACLU Award
Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Springsteen were presented with a new American Civil Liberties Union honour, the Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on 24 July 2026. The award recognises their contributions to American civil rights advocacy, with Kaepernick's recognition coming a decade after he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police violence and racial inequality, a stand that cost him his NFL career.
At the ceremony, hosted by actress Laverne Cox, Kaepernick used his acceptance speech to warn that civil liberties, humanity and education were "under attack" and urged attendees to focus on concrete action rather than rhetoric. ACLU president Deborah Archer praised his sacrifice, noting he lost his career and faced sustained public hostility yet never backed down; Kaepernick and former teammate Eric Reid had filed collusion grievances against the NFL in 2017, which were settled in 2019. Springsteen closed the event with a solo performance of "Streets of Minneapolis," later shared on his YouTube channel.
In short
- ACLU gave Kaepernick and Springsteen its new Ralph Ellison Award
- Honour marks a decade since Kaepernick's anthem protests began
- Springsteen closed the Washington ceremony with a solo performance
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the award view Kaepernick's protests as a courageous exercise of constitutional rights that drew urgent attention to documented patterns of police violence and racial inequality. They argue he sacrificed his career for principle rather than backing down under intense public hostility, exemplifying the moral courage civil liberties organisations should recognise. In this view, the award appropriately honours someone who risked everything to advance essential conversations about systemic racism and justice.
The case against
Critics argue that whilst Kaepernick possessed the legal right to protest, reasonable questions exist about the wisdom of introducing divisive politics into professional sports and about whether a single symbolic gesture, however principled, merits such prestigious recognition. Some contend the kneeling divided the country rather than advancing practical solutions, and that the award may exaggerate his concrete contributions to civil rights outcomes. This perspective values institutional unity and questions whether prominence or controversy alone should determine awards for advancing civil rights.
Explained simply
Colin Kaepernick is a former American football player who became a prominent figure in civil rights activism when he began kneeling during the national anthem in protest against police violence and racial inequality. His actions were controversial and cost him his professional career, establishing him as a symbol of civil rights protest in sport.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is an organisation dedicated to defending constitutional rights and civil liberties across America. The Ralph Ellison Award it presents honours individuals who have made significant sacrifices to advance civil rights in the arts, sports, business and science.
Bruce Springsteen is a renowned rock musician and established civil rights advocate. Both men have been recognised with the award for their sustained commitment to justice and equality, despite considerable personal and professional consequences.