The Weeknd just stepped up BIG for Colin Kaepernick -- shelling out $200,000 to the QB's campaign to cover legal costs for people who get arrested while protesting for George Floyd.
Just last week, Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp launched a "legal defense initiative" aiming to cover legal bills for the "freedom fighters" on the ground in Minnesota.
Kap says he's already put together a team of "top" defense attorneys to help out -- but they[re also asked for donations from outside supporters.
Well, Weeknd -- real name Abel Tesfaye -- has answered the call with a HUGE donation .