Nike Releases Special Edition Kaepernick Jersey Marking 4 Years Since His Protest
Sep 17, 2020, 11:15 AM
Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – To commemorate the 4-year anniversary of Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice Nike released the “Colin Kaepernick Icon 2.0” jersey.
The jersey is monochromatic in black and features “7” and “Kaepernick” on the back.
“The Colin Kaepernick Icon Jersey 2.0 marks Nike’s continued product collaboration with Colin and celebrates those making a positive impact in their community through sport and education. This celebration is represented in the meaning behind the line, True to 7,” Nike said of their collaboration.
“Four years ago, I took a knee to protest against systemic racism and social injustice. It was that day that the number on my jersey would come to represent something greater than football, something greater than me,” Kaepernick wrote in an Instagram post about the jersey.
Timeline Of Colin Kaepernick & Protesting Racial Injustice
Kaepernick’s NFL story began as a second-round NFL Draft pick in 2011. He then led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. By 2016, he had started kneeling on the sideline during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice.
Soon after, he was no longer on an NFL team and hasn’t been since. In 2019 he got a workout with multiple NFL teams, but it turned chaotic quickly. Kaepernick moved the session in Atlanta, contending the league was not transparent in how it would be run, who would attend and who would be liable for potential injuries. A limited number of teams made it to the workout.
After the killing of George Floyd and the nationwide racial injustice protests that continue into today Kaepernick’s message was reignited. The NFL acknowledged Kaepernick’s message in a statement about the killing of Floyd.
— NFL (@NFL) May 30, 2020
“We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society. We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players, clubs and partners,” read part of the NFL’s statement.
In recent months many NFL players have called on the league to do more about the injustices our society faces. Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, later released a statement acknowledging the NFL could and would do more.
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
