Nike drops 'Betsy Ross flag' shoes after Kaepernick intervenes

Nike Pulls Sneaker After Colin Kaepernick Says It Was Offensive

A new Nike sneaker that celebrates Independence Day has been pulled from stores after Colin Kaepernick called out the design as possibly offensive.

The limited edition Air Max 1 featured the “Betsy Ross flag” on its heel, which was flown before slavery was abolished.

BREAKING:@Nike just pulled a 4th of July themed shoe feat a Betsy Ross American Flag because @Kaepernick7 complained saying it was “offensive”?!?!?!

Can we just for ONE DAY Attempt to be Americans and be PROUD especially during the 4th of July!

The day we became America?!

— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 2, 2019

The former NFL quarterback and activist, who is the face of the apparel giant’s “Just Do It” campaign, reached out to the company to express concerns, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Stores were asked to return any pairs on shelves and Nike had pulled them from its website, announcing in a statement that they will not release the shoes, “as it featured an old version of the American flag.”

They pulled it because that flag has been used as a symbol of hate by white extremists. It represents the original colonies that did not recognize black people as fully human.

— 🇺🇸Snarky Blonde🇺🇸 (@Orvieto2016) July 2, 2019