Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn on Monday said a memo he issued last week that banned booster clubs from buying Nike products was meant to “not let taxpayer dollars be used to promote a company’s or individual’s political position, platform or principle.”
The memo, which was dated Sept. 5, went viral during the weekend, drawing rebukes on the local and national level. The memo was sent the same day Nike released ads featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick has been widely criticized and supported for kneeling during the National Anthem as a protest of social injustice.
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Kenner City Councilman Gregory Carroll, who spoke out Sunday against the memo, said he is concerned the decision could have a negative economic impact on the city. He said he and his colleagues will likely discuss the matter at the next City Council meeting later this month.
A statement Zahn issued Monday afternoon was his first comment on the matter. It reads in full:
“Private, for-profit companies have every right to advertise how they wish, even if it means
using advertising to promote corporate political beliefs. Individuals also have every right to support or oppose any company or brand for any reason. Those freedoms should never be lost.
I applaud Nike’s message of inclusion and encouragement for everyone to be their best and dream big. But I also recognize that Nike, in its zeal to sell shoes, chose to promote and sell a political message.
In Kenner, like every city, our citizens and our taxpayers cover a wide spectrum of political philosophies and agendas. We must respect all of those agendas and philosophies. So, when a company uses its advertising as its own political megaphone, government should be fair to all of its people and not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to help that company push its own political agenda.
My decision is only to protect taxpayer dollars from being used in a political campaign. Some have asked if people will be allowed to wear Nike apparel on city playgrounds. The answer to that is … of course.
My internal memo draws the line on letting companies profit from taxpayers by espousing political beliefs.
My decision disallowing Nike from profiting from our taxpayers while they are using their powerful voice as a political tool is my message. This government will not let taxpayer dollars be used to promote a company’s or individual’s political position, platform or principle. That’s my position as a matter of fairness to all.”
Local businessman Larry Murrow, whose family lives in Kenner, organized a protest Monday against the mayor's policy.
"I don't think he should impose his own will or his personal views on why we shouldn't be able to wear a brand. It's a brand. We're exercising our First Amendment right," Murrow said.
Kenner resident Julie Jamieson says she supports Mayor Zahn's policy.
"They can protest whenever they want, but they need to stand up for the flag. If they can't stand up for the flag, then they can't stand up for the country and therefore, we don't need to buy their stuff," she said.
Murrow said he wants to know why this is an issue in Kenner.
"When we get people in office that don't stand for the things for feel like they should, it effects us all," he said.
WWL-TV will have more on this story on later editions of Eyewitness News and online.