Nike pulls sneakers featuring Betsy Ross flag after Colin Kaepernick raised concerns, report says

Nike has scrapped a Fourth of July-inspired shoe emblazoned with the Betsy Ross flag after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick raised concerns, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Colin Kaepernick reached out to Nike saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery https://t.co/6Y2mIlbAuT
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 2, 2019

Citing "people familiar with the matter," the newspaper reported that the company asked stores to return the sneaker, called the Air Max 1 USA, after Kaepernick told officials that many find the 13-star American flag offensive because of its origins in the 18th century, during slavery.

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Nike said in a statement that it pulled the shoe, which was supposed to hit shelves Monday at $140 per pair, because "it featured the old version of the American flag," the Journal reported.

Nike "did not immediately reply to a request for comment" as to whether Kaepernick was involved in the decision, according to the Washington Post. Kaepernick also did not comment, the Journal reported.