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Just Burn It: Americans Destroy Nike Gear, Boycotting Ad With NFL Protest Player

© Photo : Sean Clancy/twitterNike
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An NFL quarterback, who started the anthem-kneeling controversy in the US two years ago, signed a new deal with Nike that will make him a face of a fresh Nike advertising campaign. A handful of Nike customers took to Twitter to vent their displeasure over the decision.

On Monday, Nike picked Colin Kaepernick, the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice, as a new face of its iconic "Just Do It" campaign, which turns 30 this year.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback rushed to post a black-and-white close-up of himself featuring the quote, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."

The announcement has prompted many Nike customers to express their outrage by sacrificing their branded gear. Social media outlets have been flooded with calls to boycott the sportswear giant, while some went so far as to burn and cut their Nike clothes and sneakers.

Some angry internet users have slammed Kaepernick as being "unpatriotic" and "anti-American."

But even amid social turbulence, there's always time to crack a joke.

Kaepernick sparked a national debate when he took a knee while the anthem was played before games during the NFL's 2016 season. He later explained that his move was meant to draw attention to shooting deaths of African-Americans by police and other issues.

Some other players soon jumped onboard with Kaepernick, drawing the condemnation of football fans and President Trump in person, encouraging NFL owners to fire anthem protesters.

In May, the NFL adopted a fresh national anthem policy requiring all players to stand during the anthem or remain in the locker room until the ceremony was over.

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