Updated on May 2, 12:08 p.m.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick visited the Queens parole office in Jamaica on April 29 to hand out free suits to people searching for jobs.
Kaepernick partnered with Queens organization 100 Suits for 100 Men, a nonprofit that aims to “reduce prison recidivism rate and repeat offenses in convicted felons through gainful employment,” according to the organization’s Facebook page.
The organization was founded in 2011 and provides services such as a weekly mentoring service to provide financial literacy, brand development, free haircuts, entrepreneurialism, and NYPD and community relations. The nonprofit also hosts monthly workshops with men who are newly released from prison at the Queens parole office.
Kaepernick was pictured outside of the New York State Division of Parole office at 92-36 Merrick Blvd. with boxes of custom-made suits.
Kevin Livingston, founder of 100 Suits for 100 Men, said in a TMZ video that Kaepernick called him on April 29 and asked him to come to his office. The quarterback showed up in a black SUB with 50 custom suits.
“To have an NFL quarterback come to my community and donate his personalized suits means the world,” Livingston said in the video. “He’s the real deal.”
The former 49er also started a youth campaign called Know Your Rights Camp “to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios.”
He made headlines last year when he refused to stand for the national anthem during preseason as a way to protest police brutality.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told NFL.com.
His actions garnered support from players in the league and other athletes around the country but sparked outrage among others. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers to become an unrestricted free agent and has not signed with another team.
