#JustBurnIt takes over Twitter after release of Nike’s new campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick.
Nike initiated their new “Just do it” advertising campaign on Labour Day, featuring Colin Kaepernick. It was backed by the tagline “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Needless to say, it faced a ton of backlash.
To recap, Kaepernick, who was a black quarterback playing for San Francisco 49ers, started sitting down during the American national anthem back in August of 2016, in order to protest against racial injustice in the US, specifically due to the large number of young black men being targeted by white policemen.
He stated, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
He was soon let go for the trouble he caused and hasn’t played professionally since but sitting down quickly became “taking a knee” and a movement emerged from it.
Needless to say, Nike’s campaign brought forward immense outrage from conservatives and social media has since been flooded with #NikeBoycott and #JustBurnIt.
First the @NFL forces me to choose between my favorite sport and my country. I chose country. Then @Nike forces me to choose between my favorite shoes and my country. Since when did the American Flag and the National Anthem become offensive? pic.twitter.com/4CVQdTHUH4
— Sean Clancy (@sclancy79) September 3, 2018
Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions. pic.twitter.com/h8kj6RXe7j
— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018
US President Donald Trump has also expressed anger towards the sportswear company.
Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Despite the animosity, Nike is adamant on taking a stand with Kaepernick and will be continuing forward by lending his voice to a TV advert which will be playing during NFL’s regular season kickoff game.
