Louisiana Town Bans Nike Purchases For Recreation Programs
The decision by Nike to roll out a new advertising campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick has poured gasoline on a societal fire that has been burning across these United States for some time now.
Kaepernick has become the face of "The Anthem Protest" across the NFL. That protest has forced the worlds of sports, politics, and now consumer goods into a whirlwind of often times heated discussion.
It is assumed that as a result of the Nike advertising campaign that the Mayor of one Louisiana town has decided to make his stance be known. Mayor Ben Zahn of Kenner has instructed the town's recreation department to not purchase any apparel or equipment manufactured by Nike.
If you can't read the small print, here's what the memo states:
Effective immediately all purchases made by any booster club operating at any Kenner Recreation Facility for wearing apparel, shoes, athletic equipment and/or any athletic product must be approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation or his designee. Under no circumstances will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility.
The copy of the memo was obtained and posted on the Twitter account of Donna Brazile, Brazile is a noted author and political strategist whose hometown is Kenner.
To say the reaction to the memo has been passionate is an understatement. There have been resounding cheers from those who support Mayor Zahn and his ban. There have also been reactions calling for Zahn's resignation and even a threat of a recall proposal.
The coming days will determine if Zahn's ban will be enforced and ultimately face legal action or rescinded with the only fallout being political in nature.