/Daniel Desrochers
The Senate majority leader is calling on Nike to reverse its decision to pull its Independence-Day themed shoes featuring the “Betsy Ross flag”
By Julian Shen-Berro | The Huffington Post
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is calling on Nike to reverse its decision to pull its Independence Day-themed shoes, pledging that if they do, he will make the first purchase.
The Air Max 1 USA featured prominent red, white and blue colors and depicted an American flag with 13 stars, commonly known as the “Betsy Ross flag,” on its heels.
“If we’re in a political environment where the American flag has become controversial to Americans, I think we’ve got a problem,” McConnell told reporters at an event in Lexington, Kentucky, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. “I hope Nike either releases these shoes or some other shoe maker picks up the flag, puts it on a pair of shoes and starts selling it. I’ll make the first order.”
Nike canceled production after Colin Kaepernick, a Nike endorser and former NFL quarterback, told company officials that he and others found the symbol offensive as it connected to an era of slavery in America. The flag, which features 13 stars referring to the 13 original colonies, was flown during a period of American history entrenched in the practice of slavery.
