An Arkansas sheriff is fighting back against backlash over mugshot photos that some claimed were meant to mock former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Suspects in Nike shirts appeared in mugshots from the south Arkansas jail, sparking outrage from critics including prominent civil rights activist, Shaun King, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
“The Sheriff in Union County, Arkansas is putting Nike t-shirts on people they arrest and making them wear them during mugshots,” he tweeted. “Source says it is to mock Nike and Colin Kaepernick. Disgusting.”
The Sheriff in Union County, Arkansas is putting Nike t-shirts on people they arrest and making them wear them during mugshots.
Source says it is to mock Nike and Colin Kaepernick. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/9z9Nw9hxuF
— Shaun King (@shaunking) October 11, 2018
But Union County Sheriff Rick Roberts countered the false claim, explaining in a statement that suspects at the county jail in El Dorado were simply given the T-shirts to wear because they did not have any other suitable attire.
“It is not our intent, nor has it ever been our intent, to demean or disparage those who are innocent until proven guilty,” the sheriff said in the statement. “I require that my staff treat everyone with the utmost dignity and respect.”
The shirts were “on hand and available,” the sheriff explained, as the department had not purchased them and one of the shirts had been used “for several months” prior to Nike’s announced deal with Kaepernick.
Nike sparked a firestorm when it launched advertising with the former San Francisco 49ers player as part of its “Just Do It” 30th anniversary campaign last month.
“We are not, and will not, be influenced by current political and social debates in the media,” he wrote.
“I understand the concern of those who may have found this offensive, and for that I apologize,” Roberts added, saying the sheriff’s office had taken steps to “rectify this issue” so it never happens again.
The letter appeared to still not appease many critics, with some condemning it as a “political statement” and calling on the offending Sheriff’s Department employees to resign. Others, however, called out those looking to create controversy.
“They were using that shirt before Colin Kaps ad. They used that shirt after Colin Kaps ad,” one Facebook user wrote. “People are fishing for stupid fights. Not everything is a political or social statement. It’s a shirt. Geeze.”
“The sheriff has nothing to apologize for. Critics have way too much free time on their hands,” another commented.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- ‘Creepy’ woman rolls dead man into bank to co-sign loan: ‘He doesn’t look well. He’s very pale’ - April 17, 2024
- INSIDER: AG Merrick Garland grilled over Biden showing signs of mental impairment - April 17, 2024
- Protestors storm stage, interrupt NYC Mayor Adams: ‘We need a new mayor!’ - April 17, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
