MILWAUKEE -- Colin Kaepernick is back in the spotlight as the star in Nike's new ad campaign. This comes after he's come under fire for kneeling during the National Anthem before NFL games.
Nike is clearly taking a risk as a business to make a bold statement by marketing Kaepernick. Multiple Milwaukee organizations have a good reason to know he fights for a cause.
It's an ad that just about everyone has an opinion about. Nike used an image of Kaepernick's face reading, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."
"I agree, I don't see any problem with it," said Ramona Clayvon in Milwaukee. "I mean, he can't seem to find a position on a football team so yeah, I don't have a problem with it."
"I think you should stand for the National Anthem," said Rick Mock in Milwaukee.
"I probably won't wear Nike no more," said John Lee Neal Jr. in Milwaukee.
Kaepernick said he kneeled during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Sharlen Moore said she knows his intentions are sincere.
"It made me feel good that Nike took an interest and an investment in an individual that stood up for something he believed in and that's something we teach our young people today," she said.
That's because Kaepernick donated $25,000 last year to her organization called 'Urban Underground.'
"I think he really just googled us and probably just looked at organizations in Milwaukee that was doing social justice work," she said.
Their mission is to mold Milwaukee youth into leaders no matter the backlash they may receive for seeking justice.
"It's centered around health, education, criminal justice and public safety," Moore said.
Kaepernick also donated $25,000 last year to a Milwaukee organization called the 'I Will Not Die Young Campaign.'
The NFL released a statement on social justice which reads in part, "The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action."
