Texas Farm Bureau Clarifies Controversial Ban On Nike Clothing

WACO, TX — The Texas Farm Bureau has clarified a policy that prohibits some of its employees from wearing Nike apparel following the 30th anniversary of company's iconic “Just Do It” advertisement.

Due to the number of complaints following Nike's latest "Just Do It" campaign, Texas Farm Bureau told its field staff Wednesday, which includes roughly 600 people, to refrain from wearing shirts that featured Nike and Texas Farm Bureau branding, spokesman Gene Hall said. All other bureau employees can still wearing Nike, despite news reports last week suggesting otherwise, Hall added.

"We have a big membership and in that membership are people of all creeds and faiths. We wanted to step away from the controversy. We respect people who have issues with those not standing for the anthem," Hall said. "But also, we would never say anything or do anything that would infringe on anyone's right to protest. Free speech is a unique American right."

Nike's released its "Just Do It" campaign in early September and features former Colin Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who knelt during the national anthem before an NFL game in 2016 in protest against racial injustice in the U.S. The bureau began phasing out its dual branded clothing over the past few years and now only buys shirts for its field staff featuring Texas Farm Bureau on them, Hall said.

Two of the first organizations to report on Texas Farm Bureau's Nike decision were TV station KWTX in Central Texas and The Hill.

Texas Farm Bureau is headquartered in Waco and has more than 520,000 members, Hall said.

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Photo: A billboard featuring former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is displayed on the roof of the Nike Store on September 5, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Nike launched an ad campaign to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its iconic "Just Do It" motto that features controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and a message that says "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Justin Sullivan/Getty Images