People are free to kneel or even stretch (like LeSean McCoy) during the national anthem.
But it is not always intention that matters. The other half of communication is reception and CKs actions have had some very negative unintended and far-reaching consequences, IMO.
It's not exactly clear where "the line" is in terms of how far you can go to send a message, but the more extreme you get, the closer you'll find yourself to another 9/11 scale tragedy. History is full of examples.
Are CKs actions making police more "aware" of their actions? I personally know several police officers and if anything it has made their jobs much more dangerous.
If CK wants to do anything to really raise "awareness", let him go undercover on some ridealongs with beat cops assigned to areas with statistically high levels of cop/AA tension and report back to us with his findings.
That almost never helps! It take more than a couple of ride alongs for some empathy and compassion, something that the elected leader in this country doesn't realize, or refuses to realize. And judging by the responses of others (not on this board, but all over) they are resonating with the venom.