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Warriors' West has been protesting anthem since he was a Hornet

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

While Colin Kaepernick has garnered headlines for his decision to protest the national anthem, he isn't the first currently active athlete to do so.

Golden State Warriors power forward David West says he's been protesting since his days with the New Orleans Hornets by standing last in line and two feet behind his teammates during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

West says his personal stances are "a lot deeper" than Kaepernick's, adding that African-Americans are suffering from more than just police violence.

"What about education? What about infant mortality? How about how we die younger and our babies die sooner?" West told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. "We die. (Black men) have the shortest life expectancy. C’mon, man. The health care system? There are so many (issues). ...

"I can’t start talking about civic issues. I can’t start talking about civility and being a citizen if m-----f------ don’t even think I’m a human being. How can you talk about progress and how humans interrelate with one another when you don’t even recognize our humanity? We got to somehow get that straight first so we’re on the same playing field. And that’s how I feel. There is just a lot of stuff, man."

While West appreciates the message behind Kaepernick's protest, he isn't so sure about its lasting impact.

"What he is doing is great, but I think it's going to pass, too," West said. "I'm not as optimistic about everything as everyone always seems to be. I don't wear it on my sleeve like I used to. I've gotten older and a little bit more mature in terms of my thinking. But I understand human rights issues."

After years of West's anthem protest, his actions were finally noticed during the Warriors' preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

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