September 7, 2018Gronda Morin

Dear Republicans, Start Burning Your Ford F150s/ Ford Backs Colin Kaepernick’s Protests

Guess what has not been in the headline news. The auto company Ford has been backing the NFL players peacefully protesting while kneeling at the beginning of NFL games as the national anthem is voting, since 2017.

Have you heard the republican President Donald Trump say word one about Ford’s stance on the NFL players peaceful protests?  How come the president’s ardent supporters haven’t been burning their popular Ford F150 trucks like they have been with Nike products?

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Nike’s executives have selected Colin Kaepernick to be the spokesperson for their 30th year ads, and in response many of President Trump’s base voters have been posting photos on social media site of them burning Nike products.

Colin Kaepernick was the San Francisco 49ers’ football quarterback who by peacefully kneeling in protest against the injustice of police officers’ over-usage of excessive force towards unarmed men of color, during the playing of the national anthem at the beginning of football games in 2016, set off a culture war utilized by the republican President Donald Trump and his supporters to accuse the kneeling NFL players as being unpatriotic and disrespectful to the US flag.

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Since 2017, Mr. Kaepernick has been black-balled by the NFL team owners who have been signing up quarterbacks with much less impressive records while still leaving him as a free agent. In short, the NFL owners gave in to the the president and his followers’ demands to censor these players.

It was a former Seattle Seahawks player Nate Boyer, who had served as a Green Beret in U.S. military actions in both Afghanistan and Iraq who had advised Colin Kaepernick that the kneeling as a form of protest during the playing of the national anthem would be a respectful way to bring attention to the issue of too many police killings of African Americans.

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Here’s the rest of the story…

On September 6, 2018, Brian Krassenstein of the Hill Reporter penned the following report, “Ford Defended Kneeling NFL Players, Yet Trump Hasn’t Said a Word”

Excerpts:

“One of the biggest stories over the last week, at least in the sports word, has been Nike’s endorsement of former NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, who made headlines for kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, is now the face of Nike’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign.”

“While Nike has received praise from some Americans, they have also faced a boycott and criticism by others. Just about a year ago though, the world’s largest car manufacturer, Ford, also took it upon themselves to defend NFL players who take a knee to protest injustice.”

Detroit Lions fans in the city's Ford Field NFL stadium.
Photo by Leon Halip—Getty Images

“Ford, a sponsor of the National Football League, came out in support of NFL players who decided to kneel during the national anthem as a form of peaceful, quiet protest. Their entire statement they made at the time, on this decision, can be read below:”

“We respect individuals’ rights to express their views, even if they are not ones we share, That’s part of what makes America great.”

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The statement, which not only throws the support of the NFL’s biggest sponsor behind players who wish to kneel, also clearly attacked the president himself, by mentioning that these very protests are what “make America great.”

While President Trump has tweeted insults to Nike, and has repeatedly condemned the NFL for not doing more to stop players from kneeling during the anthem, he has mysteriously remained tight lipped when it comes to condemning Ford.

Link to report: Ford Defended Kneeling NFL Players, Yet Trump Hasn’t Said a Word

20 comments

  1. Gronda, very interesting. Two comments. When more iconic brands make a stand that is telling. The other is the cartoon you show with two soldiers says it all. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Dear Keith,

    The Ford F150 is like an iconic symbol for his followers but President’s silence on this is amazing. I did not know this about Ford which has been backing these NFL player’s protests for over a year.

    Hugs, Gronda

    Like

    • Dear Holly,

      Both these companies base their marketing campaigns on demographics. It has to be a sound business decision which should tell the Republican Party, something. They are going down the wrong, losing road.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

  4. No question, this was a business decision on the part of Nike — which has a poor record as social activist! But it is a good move and it’s good to see Ford backing it. Apparently, announcements from the White House to the contrary notwithstanding, it is paying dividends: Nike’s business is doing very well, thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Hugh,

      Right now, I’m thrilled that there are companies stepping up to back the likes of Coiin Kaepernick and his other NFL players rights’ to to protest peacefully and respectfully by kneeling at the beginning of NFL games when the national anthem is playing.

      Both companies are not in the business of losing monies and they are on the right side of history.

      Giving in on this issue when the president has stepped in to divide this country along racial lines based on a trumped up phony issue/ culture war is the same as being complicit with his tactics which are divisive.

      I just wish the NFL owners would get the message and that the NY Giants would hire Colin Kaepernick as they could use all the help that they can get.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rielle,

      I’m still puzzled as to why the Ford Company backing Colin Kaepernick and his protest message, received little fanfare, especially from President Trump.

      Thanks a million times for sharing this post via your reblog.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Like

  10. This isn’t what it says. It doesn’t mention ford agreeing with kneeling. It says while they may not agree with they support people being able to protest. That is a legal right to protest. However when it is while you are working and there were clear rules on doing so yet they didn’t care or abide by them. Rules have since been changed. When your in the public you need to be careful. All these celebrities loose fans support when they take sides. Keep politics out of entertainment. As individuals go ahead speak your mind, go to the marches, whatever. But not at your concert, not at your game, not on your tv show.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rob Thomas,

      I respectfully disagree with your interpretation of what is being said.

      Here are the official words from the Ford family:

      (The Ford family also owns the Detroit Lions.)

      “Our game has long provided a powerful platform for dialogue and positive change in many communities throughout our nation,” Martha Firestone Ford, owner and chairwoman of the team, said. “Negative and disrespectful comments suggesting otherwise are contrary to the founding principles of our country, and we do not support those comments or opinions.”

      Nike and Ford are in the business of making monies. The President’s need to exacerbate culture wars is not something that business executives want to be a part of in today’s world.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

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