Yesterday, Nike announced it was pulling a special edition sneaker that had the Betsy Ross 13-star flag because unemployed football player Colin Kaepernick was offended by the flag.
Citing sources familiar to the matter, the Journal reported: “After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery.”
A Nike spokeswoman told the Journal: “Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag.”
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey responded by yanking the financial incentives for Nike to locate to Arizona.
Today was supposed to be a good day in Arizona, with the announcement of a major @Nike investment in Goodyear, AZ. THREAD—>
1/— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019
Tweeted Ducey, “Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike has apparently decided that Betsy Ross is unworthy, and has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism.”
“Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours. I’ve ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here.”
“Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike. We don’t need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation’s history”
Kaepernick, who is famous for refusing to stand during the national anthem when he was a football player, is the “face” of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5qhgrfoHUI]
(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)