Posted on Jul 3, 2019
Nike loses aid as 'racist trainer' row intensifies
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Arizona has pulled a $1m grant to help Nike build a new factory in a dispute over the firm's withdrawal of a trainer allegedly featuring racist symbolism.
The state's governor had condemned Nike's decision, which was prompted by complaints about its use of an old US flag embraced by white nationalists.
Nike-sponsored sportsman Colin Kaepernick had criticised the trainers, now selling on websites for $1,500.
But governor Doug Ducey said Nike had bowed to political correctness
The special edition Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July trainer features the The Betsy Ross flag.
With a circle of 13 stars representing the first US colonies, the flag was created during the American Revolution. Although opinion is divided over its origins, the flag was later adopted for use by the American Nazi party.
Nike said it withdrew the trainers "based on concerns that it could unintentionally offend and detract from the nation's patriotic holiday".
On Tuesday the trainers were selling for well over $1,500 on StockX, the online marketplace for trainers.
The state's governor had condemned Nike's decision, which was prompted by complaints about its use of an old US flag embraced by white nationalists.
Nike-sponsored sportsman Colin Kaepernick had criticised the trainers, now selling on websites for $1,500.
But governor Doug Ducey said Nike had bowed to political correctness
The special edition Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July trainer features the The Betsy Ross flag.
With a circle of 13 stars representing the first US colonies, the flag was created during the American Revolution. Although opinion is divided over its origins, the flag was later adopted for use by the American Nazi party.
Nike said it withdrew the trainers "based on concerns that it could unintentionally offend and detract from the nation's patriotic holiday".
On Tuesday the trainers were selling for well over $1,500 on StockX, the online marketplace for trainers.
Nike loses aid as 'racist trainer' row intensifies
Posted from bbc.com
Racism
American History
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 3
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Is this where we've ended up...really? Let's not even discuss the insanity of a pair of sneakers costing more than most decent rifles. This isn't a "Nazi" symbol...it's a symbol of how we began as a country; when thirteen colonies put the wind up a global superpower in the name of freedom and justice for all. If we can't be proud of that without some extremely well-paid, over-glamorized sports figure having a meltdown, than people are either willfully obstinate, or woefully ignorant. If the mentally disturbed and morally bankrupt want to adopt that flag for their own nefarious purposes, then I call that "appropriation" of something they neither understand, nor have any right to claim. We need to grow up, be realistic, and cut this crap out.
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LT Brad McInnis
C'mon LCDR Joshua Gillespie , it is only a bad symbol when they want to use it to bash Freedom Loving Americans. They certainly didn't have a problem WHEN THE SAME FLAG WAS USED FOR OBAMA's INAGURATION (Caps lock intentional). https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/ [login to see] 79469568
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I have dealt with white supremacists from over 4 dozen different groups ranging from Southern Brotherhood to Aryan Brotherhood and the various offshoots of the KKK. NONE of them use the colonial Ross flag as a symbol. Just a rag piece trying to justify a lack of patriotism to follow a coward and washout.
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I've heard it stated that Arizona should have moved forward with the grant and facility because 'jobs'. I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that. Federal, State, and local gov have NO place giving taxpayer money to any organization that is anti-American which is what NIKE appears to be. Being American, or any nationality for that matter means accepting the good with the bad. We don't support the bad things that happened in our national history, we learn from them and move on.
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