Mayor Rescinds Recreation Department Nike Ban

Paul Steinbach Headshot

A switch regarding the swoosh. Ben Zahn, the Kenner, La., mayor who last week banned his parks and recreation department from using taxpayer or booster funds to purchase Nike apparel for nine youth playgrounds has changed his mind amid political and legal pressure.

Zahn issued his directive Sept. 5, two days after Nike launched an advertisement marking the 30th anniversary of the company's "Just Do It" campaign with controversial former NFL quarter Colin Kaepernick as its focus. In the ad, Kaepernick, a divisive figure ever since sitting or kneeling during the national anthem before games beginning in August 2016 to protest racial injustice, is pictured with the caption, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."

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