The Scotsman

Serena backs Nike’s Kaepernick ad

- By ELEANOR CROOKS

Serena Williams praised Nike for creating a “powerful statement” by making Colin Kaepernick the face of an advertisin­g campaign.

The quarterbac­k appears alongside the message: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificin­g everything”, as part of the 30th anniversar­y of Nike’s Just Do It campaign.

Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel at games during the national anthem as a protest against social and racial injustice. He inspired many other players to join in, earning the ire of people including Donald Trump, and the protest has cost Kaepernick his NFL contract.

Williams, who is sponsored by Nike, has been a supporter of Kaepernick and he was at Flushing Meadows on Friday to see her defeat sister Venus in the third round.

Following a quarter-final victory over Karolina Pliskova, Williams, pictured, said: “He’s done a lot for the Africaname­rican community, and it’s cost him a lot. It’s sad. But he continues to do the best that he can to support.

“Having a huge company back him could be a controvers­ial reason for this company, but they’re not afraid. I feel like that was a really powerful statement to a lot of other companies.” Williams declined to answer whether she would take part in similar protests in tennis given the chance, saying: “I think everyone has a choice to do what they choose to do. It doesn’t make them less American.”

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