Chicago resident Terry Squarr says her 4th of July weekend was "ruined" after reading the news.
Nike has announced it's official pairing with convicted animal abuser Michael Vick. Nike re-signed the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback to a lucrative endorsement deal, nearly four years after dropping him amid his legal troubles.
"I was really disgusted when I saw the news." said Squarr, "I have been rescuing pit bulls for years and trying to curb the stereotypes. I have spent countless hours volunteering and I have seen the devastation that results from dog fighting."
Michael Vick, was convicted and served 21 months in federal prison for dogfighting. 66 abused dogs were seized at Vick's property (53 pit bulls) and dogfighting equipment. (see below for a timeline of events)
While many are upset at the Nike/Vick deal, some individuals have a different view.
Dan Weldon of Naperville was exiting a shoe store in Wheaton's Danada Square with a new pair of Nike's.
Weldon said, "It's really no big deal. So what. Vick is a smart guy that had a side business and fought pit bulls. Pit Bulls kill babies too so why not sit back and watch them kill each other? I'd love to watch a fight. I wish they would legalize it (dogfighting). People could make a lot of money."
Weldon went on to say, "It wouldn't be such a big *expletive* deal if this was about a white guy. But Vick is black so let's all cry about it. I think Nike should start making shoes out of pit bulls."
Squarr disagrees. "I was just so upset. I like Nike shoes but now I can't stand to look at them. I thought about starting a Facebook boycott against Nike myself until I saw there already was one. I've been using Twitter and reposting like crazy to get the word out. I also have emailed Nike and several shoe store chains and I get the same kind of form letter."
Within hours, the page had been "liked" by hundreds of outraged consumers.
Twitter also lit up with several celebrities chiming in about Michael Vick and Nike.
“One Tree Hill” star Sophia Bush said this:
“NIKE just signed Michael Vick!? Done. Over. Lost customer. NEVER wearing Nike again. #AnimalAbuseIsUnforgivable. The propensity to be cruel and ruthless toward a defenseless animal is sick, twisted, & unforgivable. #NOTaRoleModel.”
“Big Bang Theory” star Kaley Cuoco posted on her Twitter page, “Dear Nike, I’m disappointed.”
Also, last week BET (Black Entertainment Television) gave Vick the "Athlete of The Year Award" which was sponsored by the sandwich franchise chain, Subway. The Facebook campaign is also calling for a boycott of BET and Subway.
The Nike brand is not new to controversy.
According to Wikipedia,
During the 1990s, Nike faced criticism for use of child labor in Cambodia and Pakistan in factories it contracted to manufacture soccer balls. Although Nike took action to curb or at least reduce the practice of child labor, they continue to contract their production to companies that operate in areas where inadequate regulation and monitoring make it hard to ensure that child labor is not being used.
In 2001, a BBC documentary uncovered occurrences of child labor and poor working conditions in a Cambodian factory used by Nike. In the documentary, six girls were focused on, all of whom worked seven days a week, often 16 hours a day.
A July 2008 investigation by Australian Channel 7 News found a large number of cases involving forced labour in one of the biggest Nike apparel factories. The factory located in Malaysia was filmed by an undercover crew who found instances of squalid living conditions and forced labour.
The Facebook campaign against Nike continues to rise in numbers and comments. And, Facebook users are not at all afraid to voice their opinions in a world-wide format where anyone can see them.
One commenter, Deanna Wahl wrote:
"This is the response I received from the email I sent to Nike: "We have signed Michael Vick as a Nike athlete. Michael acknowledges his past mistakes. We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field." Which is basically the statement they issued to the media. So the same can be said for Nike... "Though I acknowledge that Nike used to be the brand I purchased, the negative changes they have made have turned me on to other more morally positive brands."
Another outraged Facebook user, Cindy Stagner wrote:
"...Nike you look like a bunch of dumb A**es...Really he's not a dog MURDERER anymore- What a Joke...I never bought your (*expletive*) product anyways...Nike you SUCK..."
Petitions against Nike, Subway and BET have also sprouted up on care2 PetitionSite, where millions have signed various petitions and 1,243,331 people have joined the cause.
Animal welfare activists, animal lovers and anti-cruelty groups have started circulating a chronological timeline. The timeline is appearing in nearly every search engine and on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, BlogSpot and Twitter.
Timeline
- April 25, 2007: Police and animal-control seize 66 dogs (53 pit bulls and dogfighting evidence from property owned by Michael Vick. Dogs are distributed to six different animal control shelters throughout Virginia.
- June 7, 2007: U.S. attorney's office, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Virginia State Police present warrant and search Vick's property.
- July 2, 2007: Federal authorities file court documents alleging that a dogfighting venture had operated at the Vick
property for the past five years. The U.S. attorney's office files papers seeking federal government ownership of 53
pit bulls that were among the dogs seized from Vick's property. - July 6, 2007: Federal authorities now on the case, evidence of dogfighting in the form of animal remains is
discovered. - July 17, 2007: Vick and three other men are indicted by a federal grand jury on dog fighting charges for activity over
a six year period. - July 19, 2007: Nike suspends the release of a new Vick footwear line, but allows current Vick products to remain
for sale. - July 24, 2007: Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank holds a news conference and calls Vick’s behavior "horrific."
- July 26, 2007: Vick pleads not guilty in federal court in Richmond, VA.
- July 27, 2007: Reebok, Upper Deck Trading Cards and Rawlings Sports Goods ends relationship with Vick.
Entering month four of confinement for dogs. - July 30, 2007: Co-defendant Tony Taylor pleads guilty to dog-fighting charges and agrees to cooperate with the
prosecution. BAD RAP submits rescue proposal to federal prosecutor, requesting permission to evaluate dogs for
placement potential. - Aug. 1, 2007: Surry County Animal Control Officer James Smith about the Vick dogs,“They are in good shape,” he
said. “They are not violent to humans.” - Aug. 17, 2007: Vick's other two co-defendants, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips, plead guilty to dogfighting
charges and admit to killing dogs "that did not perform well" by hanging and drowning. - Aug. 20, 2007: Vick's lawyer, Billy Martin, says that Vick agrees to plead guilty to dogfighting charges. BAD RAP
and the ASPCA agree to partner to evaluate the dogs. - Aug. 23, 2007: Vick signs plea agreement and statement of facts admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and
helping kill pit bulls. Dogs enter fourth month of confinement. PETA calls custody dogs "ticking time bombs" and
advocates for euthanasia without evaluation. - Aug. 28, 2007: ASPCA announces plans to work with BAD RAP to evaluate Vick dogs. Entering month five of
confinement for dogs. All groups begin a 'gag order' to prevent news leaks or publicity that might compromise the
legal proceedings. - Sept. 3, 2007: BAD RAP officers Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds and colleague Justin Phillips from SPCA
Monterey County leave CA to join Vick dog evaluation team in VA. Evaluations commence on Sept 4-6. - Sept. 9, 2007: BAD RAP submits evaluation results and recommendations for disposition of individual dogs to
foster care homes and to sanctuary care. - Sept. 25, 2007: Entering month six of confinement for dogs.
- Oct. 1, 2007: Motion filed in Virginia U. S. District Court to move all but one dog to foster families or sanctuaries.
Report reveal that only one dog displayed aggression towards humans and numerous dogs presented "no threat to
other animals.' - Oct. 16, 2007: Professor and animal law expert Rebecca Huss of Valparaiso University School of Law named
guardian of dogs in Vick case. - Oct. 17-20, 2007: BAD RAP officer Tim Racer returns to VA to accompany Guardian/Special Master Rebecca Huss
in conducting Round Two of dog evaluations. BAD RAP works with Huss to arrange interim foster care of 16
foster/observation status dogs so they can receive relief from shelter confinement. USDA approves interim foster
care transport plans. - Oct. 21, 2007: Three dogs quietly leave the shelters with east coast rescue groups. BAD RAP representatives
begin cross-country road trip to bring 13 dogs to new lives with three different organizations on the west coast. - Oct. 23, 2007: 13 dogs arrive in Oakland, CA and move into NorCA foster homes.
- Nov. 6, 2007: BAD RAP representative Nicole Rattay relocates to VA to begin six weeks of daily exercise and care
for the dogs still remaining in shelter. Nicole's daily updates and observations of sheltered dogs offer invaluable
insights that allow Special Master Huss to create placement matches with approved rescue organizations. - Nov. 12, 2007: Deadline closes for rescues to submit applications.
- Nov 20, 2007: U. S. District Court orders Michael Vick to pay $928,073.00 as "restitution" for expenses incurred in
caring for "the victim pit bulls." - Dec. 3, 2007: Special Master Guardian Rebecca Huss submits recommendations for disposition of Vick dogs to
Judge Hudson in Special Master Report Eight groups named to be permanent caretakers of Vick dogs. - Dec. 10, 2007: Michael Vick is sentenced to 23 months in jail in a federal courthouse in Richmond, VA. BAD RAP
reps Tim Racer and Nicole Rattay attend sentencing. - Dec. 17, 2007: USDA signs 10 dogs over to BAD RAP's permanent custody, roughly eight months after being
seized from Bad Newz Kennels. Dogs transition into family settings in preparation for adoption into qualified homes. - Jan. 25, 2008: The final defendant (Owen Allen) sentenced, America gets its first glimpse of the dogs that were
given a second chance.
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