SACRAMENTO -- Local veterans took a knee at a city council meeting to protest injustice in the United States, CBS Sacramento reports.

During the pledge of allegiance Tuesday evening, the military veterans kneeled to show solidarity with the athletes who have been kneeling during the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality.

"We've served our country, we didn't serve it to support racism, we didn't serve it to support police brutality, these are things that are un-American," said John Reiger from the Sacramento chapter of Veterans For Peace.

Get Breaking News Delivered to Your Inbox

The veterans who participated say this act should make it clear that they believe the athletes who kneel are not opposed to the military.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last year started taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality. While some athletes joined in with him, the protest reached fever pitch two weeks ago when President Trump said that NFL players who take a knee "should be fired."

Since then, Mr. Trump sparred with athletes on Twitter, posting that athletes should stand to "Respect our Flag and our Country!" The protest spread outside the NFL to the NBA, MLB and even musicians have knelt in protest. A high school football coach in Texas kicked two players off the team for taking a knee during the national anthem.