“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
That sentence sit squarely in front of Colin Kaepernick’s face as part of the 30th anniversary iteration of the famous “Just do it” campaign. Those three words are synonymous with Nike, and the decision to make Kaepernick a prominent part of the campaign when his name is synonymous with controversy is a bold move from the storied shoemaker — and one that is receiving a good deal of positive attention.
They Just Did It #NikeBoycott pic.twitter.com/HQhS2ZOkqR
— N.RamJo (@CRMEducation) September 4, 2018
Kaepernick sparked controversy during the 2016 NFL preseason, when he kneeled during the pre-game national anthem performance. The act, Kaepernick said, was to raise awareness and protest police brutality and racial injustice. Since then, countless other athletes have taken a knee during the national anthem to continue Kaepernick’s movement.
Kaepernick last played in the NFL during the 2016 season, he’s filed a collusion grievance with the league that arguers NFL owners have united to deny him a position on any NFL team. Kaepernick first signed a sponsorship contract with Nike in 2011, and the brand’s decision to stand by him is igniting reactions from both sides.
With the news that NFL quarterback and current free agent Colin Kaepernick is partnering with Nike as the face of the company’s 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign, many customers are taking to social media to express their frustration with the company and its perceived “liberal” stance.
BREAKING: Nike had been paying Colin Kaepernick all along, waiting for the right moment. That moment is now, as he becomes the face of the company’s 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign. pic.twitter.com/uccpDStbq5
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 3, 2018
One tweet, from one half of popular country duo “Big & Rich,” received several thousand retweet and showed the aftermath of a man cutting off the Nike logo from his pair of socks. Another tweet claimed a man would rather burn his favorite pair of Nike shoes than support the company.
First the @NFL forces me to choose between my favorite sport and my country. I chose country. Then @Nike forces me to choose between my favorite shoes and my country. Since when did the American Flag and the National Anthem become offensive? pic.twitter.com/4CVQdTHUH4
— Sean Clancy (@sclancy79) September 3, 2018
#NikeBoycott ACCURATE pic.twitter.com/ErYhtujrVb
— Horace Towns (@thehoracetowns) September 4, 2018
Instead of letting perfectly good shoes and athletic wear go to waste, local authorities are asking that residents donate the Nike gear instead of destroying them.
Hillsborough Police took to Facebook today to encourage residents to donate unwanted Nike gear.
“If your plan is to destroy them,” The police department wrote, referring to Nike shoes, “contact the Hillsborough Police Department and we will get them to someone who will use them. This is not a political post, just a sensible one.”
Featured image via @darrenrovell.
