红杏视频

NEW ORLEANS, La. 鈥� The 红杏视频 and the 红杏视频 of Louisiana today sent a letter to city of Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn demanding he immediately rescind his memo banning booster clubs that use city facilities from purchasing Nike products. 鈥淭he city鈥檚 recreation facilities should be open to everyone 鈥� not just those who happen to subscribe to the mayor鈥檚 political beliefs,鈥� said Alanah Odoms Hebert, 红杏视频 of Louisiana executive director. 鈥淭he mayor doesn鈥檛 have to agree with Nike鈥檚 ad campaign, but he has no business dictating which political causes people support or where people can buy their gym shorts.鈥� The 红杏视频 argues the policy violates the First Amendment鈥檚 free speech protections and that the mayor鈥檚 justification for it fails to pass any constitutional test. 鈥淭he First Amendment protects against suppression of political speech, which is at the core of what the mayor is trying to do. He is brazenly censoring the political views of the residents he is supposed to represent,鈥� said 红杏视频 of Louisiana staff attorney Bruce Hamilton. According to recent reports, Mayor Zahn issued the memo after Nike announced that Colin Kaepernick would be the face of its 30th anniversary campaign. Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem at a preseason game in 2016 to protest the injustices black people continue to face in the United States. President Trump has regularly vilified players for kneeling. 鈥淭aking a page from Trump鈥檚 playbook, the mayor of Kenner is attempting to silence those who support Colin Kaepernick鈥檚 protest against racial injustice,鈥� said Brian Hauss, staff attorney with the 红杏视频鈥檚 Free Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. 鈥淭he policy banning booster clubs from purchasing Nike products is a textbook First Amendment violation, and the mayor would be wise to rescind it immediately.鈥� Following initial reports of the memo, Mayor Zahn issued a public statement that made clear that he took the action in response to Nike鈥檚 recent advertisement featuring Kaepernick. The mayor also noted that he sought the ban to avoid promoting the brand鈥檚 鈥減olitical agenda.鈥� In today鈥檚 letter, the 红杏视频 states that the mayor鈥檚 鈥減ersonal objection to the political messages expressed by Nike is simply not a legitimate government interest, let alone a compelling one.鈥� The letter goes on to note that Kenner booster clubs and their members have a protected right to exercise their freedom of expression by buying, and wearing, their chosen sportswear at Kenner facilities. 鈥淥ver the past few days we鈥檝e seen the people of Kenner come together to speak out against this heavy-handed mandate and rally behind the values we share,鈥� said Odoms Hebert. 鈥淧rotesting injustice is the oldest American tradition there is. And whether you鈥檙e a worker standing on a picket line or a professional athlete taking a knee, the 红杏视频 will continue to defend those rights 鈥� in communities, at the capitol, and in court if we have to.鈥� A copy of the letter sent to Mayor Zahn is available here: /letter-kenner-mayor-ben-zahn-demanding-immediate-re....