In 2016 Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem at a National Football League (NFL) game, minutes before he played as quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He did it as a way of protest, against racial injustice and police brutality. This protest has sparked support as well as anger across the nation, creating the controversial question of whether or not Kaepernick’s actions have showed disrespect to our flag, country, and troops. This argument continues today, now fueled by an ad featuring Kaepernick that was released by the popular footwear manufacturing company, Nike.

  The ad was released on September 5 and quickly became a national controversy. Some cheered and some booed. Most people have their own opinion about this argument and both sides are equally adamant about their message.

  The Sedro-Woolley High School journalism club put a survey out asking what the general public thought about Colin Kaepernick and Nike’s ad. The survey received a total of 85 participants and a very broad spectrum of views on the subject.

  29.4 percent of voters said that kneeling during the national anthem was disrespectful. Many people are outraged at the prospect of Nike supporting him and his message, they feel that putting him in their ad condones the kneeling of football players during the anthem.

  Some of the people who disagree with this ad have started protests of their own. An abundance of people are refusing to support Nike and have started boycotting them. Others have either thrown out their clothing and shoes or started burning their Nike merchandise as a way of speaking out against the company. 17.6 percent of survey takers said that they or someone they know was taking part in the boycott against Nike.

 There have been many supporters of this ad as well. Racial injustice and police brutality has been a heated topic for the majority of history and the arguments have yet to die down. Racism is the reason Kaepernick decided to kneel in the first place and many people strongly agree with the need to fight it.

  “It allowed them to gain momentum nationwide for these issues, which was highly needed,” a participant explains. Kneeling during the anthem got Kaepernick a lot of attention from people on both sides of the party.

  “It’s 100% absolutely f**king necessary,” another survey participant exclaims. For some, the argument on racial injustice is very personal. People have grown attached to Kaepernick’s message and what it means. Both sides of the protest are very devoted to their views.

  For some citizens the fight has nothing to do with the message itself and everything to do with the way it’s being talked about.

  “I agree with the protest of racial injustice but he’s using the wrong platform,” one participant tells.

  While some stand with the message Kaepernick is sending, they disagree with the way the football player is doing it. And many individuals find that Kaepernick’s own politics should be kept from work and football, “Time and place for everything and the NFL isn’t the time nor the place to exploit his personal agenda.”

  Some have ethical problems with Nike and their advertisement, “I support the message but I don’t support Nike in it because I think they’re taking advantage of injustices to sell shoes that are made in their factories by the closest thing to slave labor.”

  Nike profited immensely off of this ad, online sales surged 31 percent after the release according to CBS news. They gained a lot of attention with Kaepernick narrating their ad.

  There is no shortage of arguments on this protest, it’s discussed nationwide by thousands every day. It has been attacked and defended many times since the start of it in 2016 and it’s sure to continue now with the release of Nike’s ad.