Earlier this week, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)
issued a statement to Nike putting them on blast for their recent ads featuring Colin Kaepernik and calling for members to boycott the apparel company. But there’s one police association that’s speaking out to support Nike and Kaepernick.
On Wednesday, the
National Black Police Association (NBPA), which is lead by Sonia Y.W. Pruitt, a Black female police lieutenant in Maryland, issued a letter of support and reiterated that both Nike and Kaepernick are practicing their fundamental rights. The organization even attempts to separate their views from those of NAPO.
“The National Black Police Association is not in agreement with NAPO on this matter, and we strongly condemn their call for police officers and their families to boycott Nike and its products,”
Pruitt wrote.
“On the contrary, NBPA believes that Mr. Kaepernick’s stance is in direct alignment with what law enforcement stands for — the protection of a people, their human rights, their dignity, their safety and their rights as American citizens.”
“That NAPO has chosen this matter to take a stance, only perpetuates the narrative that police are racist, with no regard, acknowledgment, respect, or understanding of the issues and concerns of the African American community,” Pruitt continued.
The NBPA letter is a stark difference from NAPO’s and even ends by saying, “We will likely be buying and wearing lots of Nike products in the near future.”
It’s obvious that the NBPA definitely has Kaepernick’s back.
