Nike caves to Colin Kaepernick's request to drop Betsy Ross flag shoes

Leftist marcher in

Chicago last year

As a runner, I'm a prime potential consumer of Nike products. I purchased--well, my parents did for me--my first Nike shoes over 40 years ago.

I'd announce a boycott of Nike had I not been boycotting them already.

From CNBC:

Nike is pulling sneakers featuring an early American flag after former NFL football player Colin Kaepernick told the company it shouldn’t sell a shoe that he and others consider offensive, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday evening, citing people familiar with the matter.

Nike shares were falling less than 1% in premarket trading Tuesday following the news. Shares had closed Monday up nearly 2% and have rallied 15% this year, bringing the retailer’s market cap to about $134.2 billion.

Kaepernick reportedly contacted Nike officials saying he and others felt the “Betsy Ross” flag — featuring 13 stars in a circle — featured on the shoes was linked to a period of slavery. The Betsy Ross flag is one type that was flown during the American Revolution. And the shoes were set to be released in celebration of the July Fourth holiday.