Colin Kaepernick makes surprise appearance at 'Unthanksgiving Day' on Alcatraz

Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kaepernick gave a speech at the annual Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. less Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kaepernick gave a ... more Photo: Scott Cunningham, Getty Images Photo: Scott Cunningham, Getty Images Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Colin Kaepernick makes surprise appearance at 'Unthanksgiving Day' on Alcatraz 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

Colin Kaepernick made a surprise appearance at the Alcatraz Indigenous People's Sunrise Gathering on Thursday.

A tradition since 1975, the annual dawn festivities, also known as Unthanksgiving Day, commemorate the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by American Indians, during which 89 American Indian activists and leaders occupied the island and former penitentiary with the demands that it be turned into an Indian cultural center and school.

Today, I was on Alcatraz Island at the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering, in solidarity with those celebrating their culture and paying respects to those that participated in the 19 month occupation of Alcatraz in an effort to force

Between traditional dancing and speeches, Kaepernick delivered a message of resistance and hope to the thousands gathered on the island:

"I realize that our fight is the same fight. We're all fighting for our justice, for our freedom, and realizing that we're in this fight together makes it all the more powerful. If there's one thing that I take away from today and seeing the beauty of everybody out here, it's that we're only getting stronger every day, we're only getting larger and larger every day. I see the strength in everybody. The dancing, the rituals – that is our resistance. We continue to fight. We continue to fight for justice. We fight for our freedom, and we continue on that path."

The football star's words were met with cheers and applause before the ceremony continued into the early morning hours as the sun began to rise over the island.

Kaepernick remains an unsigned free agent. The former San Francisco 49er quarterback has been criticized by President Donald Trump for refusing to stand during the national anthem as a protest against racism in the United States.

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.