North Smithfield Town Council Might Rescind Nike Ban Vote

NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI — On Monday, the Town Council approved a nonbinding measure urging town employees not to wear Nike products as a protest against the company's use of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in its ads. But after public outrage, Town Council might reverse course.

On Wednesday, Council President John Beauregard called a special council meeting for Monday, Sept. 24, where he will ask members to rescind the measure.

"At the North Smithfield Town Council meeting this past Monday, I proposed a resolution only "requesting" town departments refrain from doing business with Nike," Beauregard said in a press release.

Beauregard, who objected to Kaepernick's kneeling when the national anthem game was played before NFL games, said he believes his opinion is being misrepresented and that it has nothing to do with race. But he said his willingness to reconsider the measure does not mean he has changed his mind.

"I am not doing this because my views on this subject have changed," Beauregard wrote. "I still feel as strong about (the) subject today as I did Monday. I am only doing this because of the backlash to my town, the businesses in my town, the schools and all the residents. I don't want to drag anyone into my fight that did not choose to be in it."

A full statement from Beauregard can be read here.

During Monday's meeting, several residents and town officials spoke against the proposal, which Beauregard said was prompted by Nike's decision to use Kaepernick in advertisements. Kaepernick and others have said they kneeled during the anthem to protest the killing of unarmed black men by police across the country.

Among those who spoke against the proposal was School Committee Member Arthur Bassett.

"We as a town have so many prominent issues to deal with," he said. "Frankly, spending time on this tonight is just asinine."

School Committee Member Paul Jones also came out against the suggested ban. He said such a measure sets a dangerous precedent, no matter the intention.

"Whatever your political inclinations, whatever your beliefs about the Nike controversy, we must not lose sight of the fact that we communicate much with our actions," Jones said. "I believe a vote for this measure is, intended or not, going to send a message to our students that it is acceptable for government to punish speech it may not like or agree with."

Photo credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Staff