High school football team lies down with hands up as Colin Kaepernick kneels during national anthem

Colin Kaepernick joined players and coaches from Castlemont High School in Oakland, CA on Friday night as the team organized a form of a die-in protest during the national anthem by laying on their backs with their hands up. Kaepernick is seen kneeling with the team during their protest.

The die-in is a form of protest in which protesters lie on the ground and simulate being dead to disrupt normalcy. In the past it has been used in protest of the Iraq war and in support of human and animal rights, but more recently it has become used to protest police brutality in the United States.

This week North Carolina State students organized a die-in to protest the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, while Oklahoma students did the same to protest the death of Terrence Crutcher, who was killed by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This isn’t the first time Castlemont has protested during the anthem. Kaepernick’s visit comes a week after the team kneeled and raised their fists ahead of last week’s game.

Kaepernick spent time with the players before and after the game, wearing the team’s hoodie and showing his support.

Before the game, Kaepernick met with the team in the locker room. Wearing a Muhammad Ali shirt, the 49ers quarterback explained why he came to Oakland to stand with them.

You are important. You make a difference. This matters. Everything you do matters. Look out for one another, lift each other up. That’s what this is all about. I had to come support y’all, because the same way y’all took a stand and stood with me, I had to come out here and stand with y’all. So I appreciate what y’all did. I love y’all. Y’all my brothers -- I’m here with you.