Nike made waves this week when they cancelled the release of a special 4th of July-themed shoe. Called the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July, the shoes were to feature what is known as the Betsy Ross flag.
Independence day Air Max 1 with the Betsy Ross flag on the back is nice. pic.twitter.com/lrhUOwfBtD
— Colin Elliot 💙 (@colinelliot) June 26, 2019
The reason a Nike spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal that the company “has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag” is because of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
The Journal reports, “After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery.”
Nike’s decision sparked controversy, so much so that the Governor of Arizona announced he was pulling the incentives for a Nike plant that was supposed to be built in his state.
The Governor of Arizona has ordered the state to rescind financial incentives for Nike in Arizona following the company’s decision to pull its upcoming Betsy Ross Flag sneaker after intervention from Colin Kaepernick $NKE pic.twitter.com/ykJOEOUlsY
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) July 2, 2019
One Air Force veteran, and active-duty police officer, has an alternate shoe you can buy if you were really needing a pair of patriotic sneakers. His company, Honor and Respect, just announced a sneaker that honors law enforcement.
Screw Nike. Support an Air Force veteran and honor our great law enforcement (minus Portland) https://t.co/8nLakDQJVp #FoxNews
— Red Nation Rising (@RedNationRising) July 3, 2019
According to the website, they are accepting pre-orders and all shoes will be shipped in August. If you’d like to pre-order a pair, click here. Proceeds benefit organizations that help officers who suffer from PTSD.
Ron Slagle went on Fox & Friends Wednesday to promote the shoe, saying that if you were thinking of purchasing Nike’s American flag shoes, you should consider buying these instead. There are plenty of other products you can purchase, including hats, and t-shirts.
Veteran-owned Nine Line Apparel is also combatting Nike’s decision by releasing a shirt that brandishes the Betsy Ross flag. You can buy it here.
Buy your patriotic Colonial USA Flag Victory T-Shirt from veteran owned, and USA made Nine Line Apparel! I've got one coming my way. Unlike @Nike products, no slave laborer touched this shirt. https://t.co/nBsAsLdzv2
— Jim Trakas (@JimTrakas) July 3, 2019
Watch the Fox & Friends segment on the shoes here.