The #NFL cannot have it both ways. They use our backs and bodies (reference #JesseWilliams) until they are rendered useless, and then they disavow any knowledge of the traumatic brain injuries that have lifetime and sometimes fatal consequences. They allow players and coaches to cheat on the field of play, but tacitly punish a player who speaks out against injustice. A peaceful non-violent act (which in no way, was neither criminal nor disrespectful) they should not only have respected, but applauded. Especially since 70% of the players on the field are black.
NFL, I don’t expect you to have a conscience. You’re just a wholly own cooperation of white men who threaten to move your teams to new cities every few years if they don’t bow down to your demands for new stadiums at the taxpayers expense. But, understand this — I do not have to attend or watch your games, nor purchase the supporting merchandise. I do not have to patronize your sponsors nor the stadium. And thanks to this silly little invention called the internet, I can encourage millions just like me to do the same. Even if you are without a soul, I am not — I must listen to mine. I will continue to thrive without being entertained by your teams, but your league will not survive financially without the participation and support of its fans.
So, thank you — it’s been fun. We had some great moments, but until Kaepernick is playing again — it is one professional sport I will boycott and divest from in every way I can.
Here is an abbreviated list of official NFL sponsors (along with their ticker symbols) that I will not be patronizing for the next 10 years:
Hotel (#Marriott) — MAR
Automotive (#Hyundai) — 005380.KS
Quick-service restaurant (#McDonalds) — MCD
Shipping services (#FedEx) — FDX
Credit card (#Visa) — V
Soft drink (#Pepsi) — PEP
Sports/energy drink (#Gatorade) — division of Pepsi — PEP
Wireless service provider (#Verizon) — VZ
Pizza (#PapaJohns) — PZZA
Beer (#AnheuserBusch) — BUD
Corporations with naming rights to stadiums around the NFL that I will also be divesting any financial interest and refraining from using their services or purchasing their products:
#ATT — T
#BankOfAmerica — BAC
#CenturyLink — CTL
#EverBank — EVER
#FedEx — FDX
#FirstEnergy — FE
#Ford — F
#Gillette — (parent company Proctor & Gamble) — PG
#HardRockCafe (privately owned — Seminole Tribe of Florida)
#Heinz (parent company — Kraft Foods) — KHC
#Levis (privately held company Levi Strauss)
#LincolnFinancial — LNC
#LucasOil — (privately held company Lucas Oil Products)
#MTBank — MTB
#MercedesBenz — New Orleans (parent company Daimler AG) — DDAIF
#MercedesBenz — Atlanta — see above
#MetLife — MET
#NewEra — (privately owned by the Koch family)
#Nissan — (privately held by Nissan North America)
#NRG — NRG
#RaymondJames — RJF
#SportsAuthority — now defunct
#StubHub — (privately held company)
#UniversityOfPhoenix (Apollo Education Group) — APOL
#USBank — USB
#BoycottNFLSponsors #2017NFLBoyCott #ColinKaepernick #Kaep7 #TeamKaepernick #StayWoke #BlackLivesMatter #LetColinPlay
