Kenner Mayor E. Ben Zahn III’s has banned all Nike products from his city’s recreation facilities. The move arrives just days after the company featured former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in its 30th-anniversary ‘Just Do It’ advertising campaign.
To ensure compliance with his bigoted decision, the mayor is also demanding that all booster clubs have city approval for purchases that involve “apparel, shoes, athletic equipment and/or any athletic product.”
“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 mayor wrote in a letter posted to Twitter.
It disappoints me that this is happening in my state. The Mayor of Kenner is trying to ban all Nike apparel and equipment from children’s sports and playgrounds. I would like to have a conversation with him when i return from this European Tour. Not to fuss, just to build. pic.twitter.com/gRCoCN3nQP
— Dee-1; IG @dee1music (@Dee1music) September 9, 2018
Kaepernick drew controversy in 2016 when he kneeled during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Since becoming President, Donald Trump has regularly attacked Kaepernick and other players for their decision to kneel. The POTUS has gone so far as to demand that players who kneel be immediately fired, a move the NFL has ignored.
Kenner City Councilman Gregory Carroll took to Facebook to say he believes the decision is “disturbing” and to note that he is “100% AGAINST this decision.”
Good Morning to all my Family and Friends of the City of Kenner!Last night a disturbing memorandum was circulated that…
Posted by City of Kenner, District 1 on Sunday, September 9, 2018
Since Nike announced the new commercial some conservatives have called for a boycott of the brand while others tore up and burned their own Nike products in a fit of outrage.
In response to Kenner’s decision, New Orleans council member, Jay Banks, posted a photo on Facebook of himself holding up a Nike shirt.
I was in church when I received a copy of the letter from the Mayor of Kenner.I have never felt a need to purchase one of these before but I am compelled now.Thank you NIKE!
Posted by Jay H. Banks on Sunday, September 9, 2018
Donald Trump has claimed that Nike was “getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts” when in reality, Nike’s online sales are up by 31% since the campaign was announced.
