Colin Kaepernick items to be part of Smithsonian's Black Lives Matter collection

— -- Items pertaining to Colin Kaepernick will be part of the?Black Lives Matter collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

"The National Museum of African American History and Culture has nearly 40,000 items in our collection," Damion Thomas, the Washington museum's sports curator, told USA Today Sports. "The Colin Kaepernick collection is in line with the museum's larger collecting efforts to document the varied areas of society that have been impacted by the Black Lives Matter movement."?

Thomas had previously told USA Today Sports that items would include a game-worn jersey and shoes.?

Kaepernick, as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, kneeled during the playing of national anthem throughout the 2016 season. The free agent quarterback said he was protesting racial inequality and social injustice in the country.?

Kaepernick was joined by several teammates and inspired players across the league to protest the national anthem, spurring a nationwide debate about athletes' role in social issues.

He was released by the Niners during the offseason. Several NFL players have stated that Kaepernick is being freezed out the league for his stance.?

The museum, situated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., opened to the public in 2016 as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Among the museum's featured sports items include gold medalist Tommie Smith's warm-up track suit. Smith and teammate John Carlos famously raised black-gloved fists into the air in protest during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.