Law enforcement response to
Nike ad is undoing it
By now, you have read the responses
from NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan
and Executive Vice President Marc Kovar
to Nike using Colin Kaepernick in a new
advertising campaign. The Nike actions are
infuriating enough to law enforcement offi-
cers to warrant both of the union’s top lead-
ers to express their perspectives.
In case members are wondering wheth-
er these comments and others like the one
that appears on this page from the National
Association of Police Organizations are tak-
ing a toll on Nike, rest assured that they are.
A new report from the website “Morning
Consult” reveals consumer opinions of Nike
have shifted rapidly since announcing the
new campaign with the former NFL quar-
terback. Across nearly every demographic,
perceptions of Nike’s brand have fallen, in-
cluding among key consumer groups.
Some of these findings include:
• Nike’s favorability rating has dropped
by double digits: Before the an-
nouncement, Nike had a net plus-69
favorable impression among consum-
ers. It has declined 34 points, to plus-
35 favorable.
• No boost among key demos: Among
younger generations, Nike users, Afri-
can–Americans and other key demo-
graphics, Nike’s favorability declined
rather than improved.
• Purchasing consideration is also
down: Before the announcement, 49
percent of Americans said they were
absolutely certain or very likely to buy
Nike products. That figure is down to
39 percent.
And then there’s the response from a
small college in Georgia, which cut ties with
Nike over its campaign, claiming Kaeper-
nick mocked law enforcement and the mil-
itary by protesting during the national an-
them. Truett McConnell University (TMU)
in Cleveland, Georgia announced that it
will stop carrying Nike products in its cam-
pus store and donate the proceeds from any
remaining products to Wounded Warriors,
a veterans charity and a law enforcement
charity.
“If Nike chooses to apologize to our
troops and to our law enforcement officers,
then – and only then – will TMU reconsider
their brand,” TMU President Dr. Emir Caner
said.
The movement Kaepernick spawned
of kneeling during the national anthem
has grown to other NFL players protesting
during the pre-game playing of the anthem.
When that practice continued at the start of
this NFL season, NAPO and the PBA reacted
swiftly and vehemently.
The Broward County (Florida) PBA called
for a boycott of the Miami Dolphins after
several of their players knelt during the an-
them at their opening preseason game. Bro-
ward County PBA called upon PBA mem-
bers in Florida to join their protest.
The NJ State PBA had planned a trip to
the Dolphins-Raiders game on Sept. 23
during the 2018 Annual Convention in Boca
Raton. But to respect the wishes of fellow
PBA members in Florida, the NJ State PBA
cancelled that trip.
“We simply must take a stand for our
profession and for the truth,” President
Colligan wrote on the PBA website when
announcing support for the Florida PBA.
“We shall not reward millionaire pro ath-
letes who choose to disrespect us and our
nation by spending our hard-earned pay
on tickets and food that lines their pockets.
Police work is dangerous and our members
are rarely acknowledged for a lifetime of
sacrifices. Until the NFL respects our sac-
rifices, we will not encourage our members
to make them all wealthier playing a game.”
Additionally, in a letter addressed to
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Aug.
15, NAPO Executive Director Bill Johnson
wrote:
“At the same time that U.S. police line-
of-duty deaths are up from last year, and
while the men and women of our nation’s
armed services continue to pay with their
own blood to defend each one of us, your
league’s employees publicly disrespect our
flag, our national anthem, our veterans and
our police.
“How ironic that your league’s own logo
deliberately calls to mind the American
flag, with its red, white and blue coloring
and background of white stars on a field of
blue. America’s law enforcement officers
and their families only wish you had the
integrity to defend our nation’s flag as vig-
orously as you defend your company’s own
logo.”
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ SEPTEMBER 2018 47