Arizona drops Nike investment after Betsy Ross shoe is scrapped

By DCNF

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey revealed Tuesday that the state of Arizona will withdraw all of the financial incentives provided to Nike following the company’s decision to pull an American flag-themed sneaker it deemed offensive.

“Today was supposed to be a good day in Arizona, with the announcement of a major [Nike] investment in Goodyear, [Arizona],” Ducey said on Twitter. “And then this news broke yesterday afternoon.”

“Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision. I am embarrassed for Nike,” he continued. “Nike is an iconic American brand and American company. This country, our system of government and free enterprise have allowed them to prosper and flourish.”

Air Manufacturing Innovation, the Nike subsidiary that makes Nike Air sneakers, announced plans to open a multimillion-dollar facility in the Grand Canyon state only hours before news broke that Nike was recalling Air Max 1 USA sneakers because a Revolutionary War-era version of the flag was stitched on the heel.

The already-produced shoe line was pulled after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained that the Betsy Ross flag was a symbol of the slave era and considered offensive, reported The Wall Street Journal. Kaepernick, who is endorsed by Nike, gained notoriety by kneeling during the National Anthem to protest systematic racism in America.

“Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike has apparently decided that Betsy Ross is unworthy, and has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism,” Ducey said. “It is a shameful retreat for the company. American businesses should be proud of our country’s history, not abandoning it.”

“Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours. I’ve ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here,” he continued. “Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike. We don’t need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation’s history.”

The famed shoemaker planned to invest more than $184 million into the first phase of the Goodyear-based facility, according to Arizona’s ABC15. Operations were scheduled to be up and running by 2020 and create at least 505 new full-time manufacturing jobs.

“It shouldn’t take a controversy over a shoe for our kids to know who Betsy Ross is. A founding mother. Her story should be taught in all American schools,” Ducey added. “In the meantime, it’s worth googling her.”

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5 thoughts on “Arizona drops Nike investment after Betsy Ross shoe is scrapped

  1. Nike, you are realy corageous. A has been liberal football player whose patriotism is questionable at best objects to a product which most find acceptable and youl FOLD! Wonder what the swosh stands for if anything.

  2. Nike, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You are selling out your country at the behest of Colin Kaepernick a mediocre quarter back at best. This bum couldn’t get headlines for his football skills so he behaves as haters do by denigrating the national anthem, the flag and our country. I wonder how much Nike is paying him. I imagine it’s a lot more than he could earn playing football. I guess a lot of us expect many sports figures and Hollywood actors to behave stupidly but be warned eventually this great nation will turnaround and these fools will see that real Americans will not tolerate them. Nike, one more thing I and many others like me will never buy your products ever again.

  3. For a supposed American company to listen to a overprivileged
    half ass black (Krapernik) not allowing a BETSY ROSS Flag
    should result in their demise. The users of slave labor should
    embrace the flag we love and find a Representative that’s
    not a worthless piece of racist crap with no cause. I’ve had it with all this “Black” crap, if you don’t like it here don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out..

  4. More Liberal nonsense, now it’s the Besty Ross Flag, the First Flag for our Nation and
    because of ” Colon ” Kaepernick had a problem with it ……….So these fools fold !!

    Nike has the right to alter or change there products that’s ” America ” but they can take
    their overpriced Asian Pacific Trash and stick it.

    Kaepernick, what a loser, Nike & he make a good pair.

  5. I applaud Governor Ducey for standing up for the Flag and country.
    Colin Kaepernick was brought up by well to do WHITE parents and never wanted for anything.
    I am tired of all this “politically correctness” ,the America I know is going down the tubes with all this crap. HISTORY CANNOT BE CHANGED or erased – what happened – happened . Most company’s bow to ” I’m offended ” because they’re afraid they might lose a dollar. It’s about time someone did not cave but stood up for what is right. Hopefully more company’s will follow suite but I won’t hold my breath.

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