Salguero, writing in the Miami Herald, called Kaepernick a hypocrite for protesting civil rights abuses in the United States while not being willing to criticize Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. (UPDATE: Cuban state television reported (via the BBC) early Saturday that Castro had died at age 90.)
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Salguero and Kaepernick engaged in a tense exchange during the 49ers quarterback’s conference call with South Florida reporters Wednesday; the Niners play the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. Salguero questioned Kaepernick about the disconnect between his protests and the fact that, in August, he wore a T-shirt showing Castro meeting with 1960s civil rights leader Malcolm X. Kaepernick’s defense of Castro in his response further dismayed Salguero.
Castro’s history of abuse is extremely personal for Salguero, who emigrated from Cuba as a child with his mother in 1967. Salguero wrote that his father didn’t accompany them because an armed Cuban soldier would only allow two of the three people on the plane. Salguero’s father chose to stay behind.
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Salguero, in his column, reviewed his exchange with Kaepernick and his own history, then ended with this denunciation:
Show everyone what an unrepentant hypocrite you are.
