The latest Nike “Just Do It” ad campaign featuring NFL player Colin Kaepernick gained plenty of attention recently, as people either supported the brand and the message or opposed it. Many people responded by burning their Nike shoes and clothing to send a message about the campaign that featured the player who first knelt during the national anthem in protest.
Recently, a man sat outside a Nike store in Little Rock waving a pro-police blue-line flag. Jimmie Cavin explained his reasoning for protesting outside the store, telling Fox 16: “My priority is supporting law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics.”
It was a peaceful protest, as he sat with the flag on his tailgate, but the Little Rock police showed up 15 minutes later after the store manager called to report Cavin as being a disturbance.
The police left shortly thereafter, as they found Cavin “wasn’t doing anything wrong.” Cavin explained, “Nike called the police on the guy supporting the police for supporting the police.”
Cavin noted in a video he posted on Facebook: “Now what better place to wave the flag than right here in front of the Nike store.”
He explained, “It was lunch time, so they were full and I know people were watching from over there. My priority is supporting law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics.”
After police arrived, Cavin noted, “Of course, we chatted,” adding, “He realized I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
Cavin did say that he doesn’t agree with Kaepernick’s decision to kneel but does think that the football player has the right to express himself. Cavin previously was seen waving his flag at other Arkansas locations to support law enforcement and first responders and plans to continue doing so.
“I usually fly them on my truck too,” Cavin explained, noting, “I mean, just an ol’ redneck sitting on his tailgate waving a flag.”
Fox 16 further reported in their story that they contacted the Nike media relations department, who said the company respects the right to peacefully protest.
Among the many comments left on IJR.com’s coverage of the story were those who supported Cavin’s peaceful protest, as one person noted: “Good for him. I’m sure it made that officer’s day to know that there is someone willing to publicly show their support for him and his follow officers.”
Another commenter wrote: “Lol- ok let me Get this straight — it is all right for Colin to protest at work in his uniform during the national anthem, but it isn’t ok for this man to peacefully protest outside of work in his street clothes not during the national anthem for a real cause?”
Another commenter added: “And the hypocrisy continues… all okay if one side protests on a National Stage…..but if the favor is returned in a public parking spot with NO cameras…….he’s creating a disturbance?”
One commenter on social media spoke more about the man, writing, in part: “If you knew Mr. Cavin, you would understand that everything he does, every cause he takes up, he does it for his own personal notoriety. His dramatic posts, his hand picked causes, (which really anyone that is American would support), but mostly, his attempts to out-philosophize, and to out- intellectualize, are lost in his railing insults hurled at anyone that dares to disagree. I have followed his antics for some time now.”
