Racist, right-wing heads are exploding after Nike named NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick the face of its 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign. Kaepernick, the leading figure in the “take a knee” National Anthem protests intended to draw attention to injustice against African-Americans, tweeted an image of his face that read: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt”
Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018
Donald Trump and his followers have pushed a racist misinformation campaign against the “take a knee” protests, lying that the meaning behind the protests is anti-American which is not the case at all.
The NYT reports: “Nike will produce new Kaepernick apparel, including a shoe and a T-shirt, and if the merchandise sells well, the value of the deal will rival those of other top N.F.L. players, according to people close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because Nike had not formally announced it. Nike will also donate money to Kaepernick's “Know Your Rights” campaign.”
I'm just here to remind folks that last year Colin Kaepernick was in the top 50 in NFL jersey sales, despite not being on a roster. Nike made a business move.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 3, 2018
Bloomberg adds: “Following the announcement, the hashtags #BoycottNike and #JustBurnIt started trending on Twitter. Some angry consumers even posted photos and videos of themselves burning their Nike shoes and other gear to protest the company using the divisive figure in its 30th anniversary ad campaign. The fallout was no surprise but Nike may be betting that the upside of a Kaepernick endorsement is worth angering conservative Americans and supporters of President Donald Trump. Kaepernick — who sparked a movement among professional athletes when he began taking a knee in 2016 during the anthem to protest police brutality against African Americans — is embroiled in a lawsuit against the National Football League and accuses it of blacklisting him.”
Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions. pic.twitter.com/h8kj6RXe7j
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
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
https://twitter.com/Kolbe_Minh/status/1036929540600340480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1036929540600340480&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fbusiness%2F2018%2F09%2F04%2Fpeople-are-destroying-their-nike-gear-protest-colin-kaepernicks-just-do-it-campaign%2F
When a radical anti-Semite, anti-American Iranian dictator emphatically agrees with you, maybe that's a sign that Beto, the NFL, and Nike are all on the wrong side of the American people…. https://t.co/7MYcLfIsBz
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 4, 2018
Others made comments about the racist boycotters:
I'm finally cutting out the Nike logos out of my Nike pillow case! pic.twitter.com/cP9Un6PVzH
— rafael shimunov (@rafaelshimunov) September 4, 2018
And Nike and Kaepernick have also been getting a lot of praise:
Nike ran the numbers. They'll be ok. But please, burn your socks.
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) September 4, 2018
People really out here destroying their @Nike products over the Kaepernick ad? What are you mad about? Peaceful protest? Equality? Black lives mattering? Fair policing? Youth being protected? Stop making this about something it's not. Evaluate your minds. pic.twitter.com/BRIlj437NB
— Lilly (@Lilly) September 4, 2018
Colin Kaepernick drew our collective attention to the problem of continued racial injustice in America. He did so not to disrespect our flag but to give meaning to the words of the preamble of our Constitution—“in order to form a more perfect union.” Well done, Colin, well done. https://t.co/4ALyUxLjM5
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) September 4, 2018
Nike is definitely on the right side of history by having Colin Kaepernick in their new #JustDoIt campaign. Nike has made BILLIONS of dollars off the image of Black athletes, and it's only right for them to show support for Black athletes who stand up for justice
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) September 4, 2018
The swish got it right! Well done @Nike @Kaepernick7 https://t.co/KL0APrGvf6
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) September 4, 2018
Oh shit @Nike done stepped in it now!!! Sanctions tbd!!!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) September 4, 2018
Be like NIKE, don't be like Papa Johns. #JustDoIt
— OKUNG (@RussellOkung) September 4, 2018
— Beachum.eth (@KelvinBeachumJr) September 3, 2018