Nike says it supports athletes’ strikes

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Nike, the official maker of the uniforms for the NBA and WNBA, said Thursday it supports athletes’ strikes in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Soon after the Milwaukee Bucks decided to not play Wednesday night, the NBA announced it would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff series. Within hours, three WNBA, five Major League Soccer and three Major League Baseball games were called off as athletes acted in solidarity with the Bucks.

“Nike stands in support of NBA and WNBA players and athletes across the sports community in their response to the senseless shooting of Jacob Blake. We remain committed to addressing the issue of systemic racism experienced by the Black community,” the company said in a statement.

Nike was one of many companies that voiced support for the Black Lives Matter protests earlier this summer. In May, it reversed its iconic “Just Do It” slogan in an online video, saying, “For once, Don’t Do It.”

“Don’t pretend there’s not a problem in America,” the message read. “Don’t turn your back on racism. Don’t accept innocent lives being taken from us. Don’t make any more excuses. Don’t think this doesn’t affect you. Don’t sit back and be silent.”

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