Kenner mayor orders halt to purchasing of Nike products, met with opposition from councilman

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John Casey

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn is facing backlash as a memo from his office emerged on social media Sunday morning ordering booster clubs at city recreational facilities to immediately end the purchasing of all Nike products.

“Effective immediately all purchases made by any booster club operating at any Kenner Recreation Facility for wearing apparel, shoes, athletic equipment and/or any athletic product must be approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation, or his designee. Under no circumstances will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility,” according to the memo.

Reactions to the memo on social media were highlighted by a tweet from Donna Brazile, a Kenner native and former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

“What’s on your Sunday menu? Disappointed in my beloved city of Kenner,” said Brazile via Twitter accompanied by a photo of the memo.

Kenner city councilman Gregory Carroll quickly released a statement of his own in reaction to the memo.

“I was not made aware of this decision beforehand and it is in direct contradiction of what I stand for what and what the city of Kenner should stand for. I am 100% agains this decision. I will meet with the mayor and other council members in an effort to rescind this directive. I will keep the citizens of Kenner, and the Greater New Orleans area informed as we move forward,” said Carroll via Facebook.

The debate comes in wake of a Nike commercial involving disenfranchised former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick who has been the focus of a national debate for kneeling during the playing of the national anthem while he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers.