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Colin Kaepernick is working to secure a trademark on his likeness – the colossal afro and the stern look on his face that has become the symbol of fighting against police brutality.
—Trump says ‘stop and frisk’ works and Chicago police should use it to stop violent crime—
Kaepernick’s company Inked Flash, filed a request with the US Patent and Trademark Office with intentions to use a black and white graphic of Kaepernick for advertisement purposes, seminars, TV and movies, the Daily Mail reports.
Just Do It
Nike released a powerful campaign with Kaepernick front and center making a bold statement at the start of the NFL season:
“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything #JustDoIt.”
The former San Francisco 49er’s simple black and white ad forces viewers to look head on into the eyes of the man who is leading the fight against police brutality.
Nike and Kaep have partnered since 2011, but this is the fist time the company has embraced the activist movement. Kaepernick hasn’t played for the 49ers’s since 2016 and is suing the NFL for collusion to keep him from playing.
The ad was unleashed for the 30th anniversary of Nike’s first Just Do It campaign and Nike also released ads featuring Serena Williams, NFL receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., and one-handed football player Shaquem Griffin, who made the Seattle Seahawks for the upcoming NFL season.
—Parents react to video of Black male babysitter being questioned by police—
After the campaign was released, Williams responded to Kaepernick joining the campaign saying: “I think every athlete, every human, and definitely every African American should be completely grateful and honored at how Colin and Eric (Reid) are doing so much more for the greater good. They really use their platform in ways that are unfathomable.”
Many people took to social media to praise Nike for taking such a strong stance behind Kaepernick who has faced heavy criticism for his advocacy.
But as expected, following the release of the campaign on September 3, clueless racists took to social media to air their dismay and burn their footwear or apparel with the Nike swoosh. Some Twitter users started the hashtags #BoycottNike and #JustBurnIt with videos of burning footwear and apparel.