...Formerly a petulant quarterback for the San Francisco Giants, now looking for a job. He was willing to stand up for his principles by kneeling during the national anthem, which he had every right to do, but not willing to take the consequences, which he apparently thought shouldn't apply to him...complained about the patriotic kicks; the former 49er signed onto a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Nike last year.
"Nike has pulled a Betsy-Ross-themed Fourth of July sneaker after Colin Kaepernick β now a Nike ’endorser’ β found it offensive," Nine Line Apparel said in a statement. "In response, Nine Line Apparel, a veteran-owned apparel company, has just released a t-shirt line that proudly features the Betsy Ross flag."
The apparel store is also "calling on Americans to boycott Nike and to display their patriotism with the hashtag #NoToNike." As reported by The Daily Wire on Tuesday, a #WalkAwayFromNike boycott gained traction online when Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) similarly asked Americans to refrain from buying Nike goods.
Army CPT (ret.) Tyler Merritt, CEO of Nine Line Apparel, slammed the athletic gear giant for seeking "profit through controversy, but with absolutely no regard for the consequences."
"In its corporatist wake, it leaves behind anti-American sentiment and division, harming our country," Merritt said in a statement. "But since Nike has no interest in displaying the Betsy Ross flag, a classic symbol of freedom and unity, then we proudly will."
"How far Nike has fallen. It was once an iconic American company. Now it can’t even stomach associating itself with one of the greatest moments in our country’s history, when individuals of diverse backgrounds put differences aside to fight tyranny and secure liberty," the CEO continued. "The American people should support the red, white, and blue and boycott Nike and join our #NoToNike campaign. Nike says ’just do it.’ We say just stand β stand for your beliefs and for your country."
