Kneels and deals

COLIN KAEPERNICK has divided a nation once more after signing up to become the face of Nike’s 30th anniversary celebration of their ‘Just Do It’ slogan. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, 30, sparked furious debate in August last year by choosing to kneel when the US national anthem was played before games in protest against racial injustice and police brutality. Nike describe Kaepernick as “one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation”. But his multi-million-dollar deal with the global sportswear giant to feature close-up images of his face and the words ‘Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything’, has only inflamed the row. His detractors are enraged at his commercial tie-in with a company who have been accused of tax avoidance schemes and using sweatshops to make their goods. Nike’s stock value took a huge hit when the market opened yesterday.

Social media was flooded with images of Nike trainers and clothing being burned in protest, using the hashtag #JustBurnIt.

But supporters claim his peaceful protest should be highlighted once more, and that having felt compelled to opt out of his seven-year contract with the 49ers and since going unsigned – leading to allegations he was being deliberately blackballed by NFL owners – Kaepernick is entitled to do as he pleases.

Former CIA director John Brennan tweeted: “Colin Kaepernick drew our collective attention to the problem of continued racial injustice in America.

“He did so not to disrespect our flag but to give meaning to the words of the preamble of our Constitution – ‘in order to form a more perfect union’. Well done, Colin, well done.”