Athletic shoe behemoth Nike has canceled an American flag-themed shoe line after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick said the shoes feature the slavery-era flag emblem.
Yahoo Sports report that Nike reflexively yanked down the shoe line from stores after Kaepernick and others raised concern that the “Betsy Ross Flag” printed on the heel of the company’s Air Max 1 was racist. Kaepernick also noted the shoes have been adopted by white supremacist groups such as the Patriot Movement and Identity Evropa to promote White identity.
The Betsy Ross flag on a sneaker would be perfect if Nike was starting a new "Just whites" or "Just White It" campaign. Sadly the flag has been become a white supremacist symbol. Here's 2018 KKK recruitment flier, Klan insignia and image from documentary on Neo Nazis with flag: pic.twitter.com/md3bR7S2Wy
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) July 2, 2019
Nike spokesman Mark Rhodes released a statement Monday that was obtained by Yahoo Sports stating: “Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured an old version of the American flag.”
The “Betsy Ross Flag” is different from the current American flag, as the old flag features 13 stars in a circle to symbolize the original 13 colonies. The Betsy Ross flag has spiked in popularity in the last few years by White nationalist groups during the Donald Trump era.
These were the sentiments and concerns raised by Kaepernick and others when he told Nike the Ross flag is racist. As a result, Nike began recalling the shoes that had been shipped across the nation. There is no word about how many of the shoes have already been sold.
Nike is getting blistered on both sides of the political divide as you can see below. They are getting slammed from people whose beliefs align with Kaepernick. But Nike is also getting excoriated by powerful conservatives who threaten to take action against Nike for shuttering the shoe line.
Want to bet these racist border patrol agents love the Betsy Ross flag: Lawmakers Respond To 'Vile' Secret Facebook Group Created By Border Patrol Agents https://t.co/BmwG0OIqdG
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) July 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1146022477237313536
NEW: Governor Ducey to withdraw #Arizona Nike plant incentives amid Betsy Ross-Colin Kaepernick controversy: https://t.co/WtnduYRjm7 #abc15 pic.twitter.com/CPG0xdqaJ0
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) July 2, 2019
Funny, @Nike caves to a single #SJW (#ColinKaepernick) and pulls the "Betsy Ross Flag" shoe from shelves due to it's "connection to an era of slavery"? Remind us where #Nike factories are and what they pay their workers. https://t.co/1Qbmukz6cB
— Andrew Wilkow (@WilkowMajority) July 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/firehse/status/1146013711548764160
Ku Klux Klan uses the Betsy Ross flag in their recruitment efforts https://t.co/MeK5TTq19E pic.twitter.com/LEz5dYkN4A
— Cruz Cerda III, Ph.D. (@cruzcerda3) July 2, 2019
What the hell? Time to drive Nike out of business. If u don’t like AMERICAN flags in America…u don’t belong in America. https://t.co/9LLasunDUd
— Wayne Root – Wayne Allyn Root – TV & Radio Host (@RealWayneRoot) July 2, 2019
If you’re going to tweet about the Betsy Ross Flag, make sure you include this part: “It has been appropriated by some extremist groups opposed to America’s increasing diversity.” https://t.co/k5N5bGhDut
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 2, 2019
