The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, sent a letter to Nike president and CEO Mark Parker on Tuesday asking the company to terminate its “commercial association” with Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who has been linked to alleged dog fighting. Pacelle wrote that the HSUS “… knows that Nike has high standards for its spokespersons, and urges Nike to terminate its relationship with Vick as soon as is feasible. … We trust Nike does not want to be associated with any celebrity who is linked to this odious form of animal cruelty.”
Nike, through a spokesperson, acknowledged receipt of the Humane Society’s letter. “There is no change in the status of the agreement between Nike and football player Michael Vick; he is rightfully presumed innocent and afforded the same due process as any citizen, rather than be tried in the court of public opinion,” wrote Erica Pedreguera, Nike’s public relations manager, in e-mail recently sent to the Journal-Constitution. “Nike will continue to monitor the situation, but has nothing further to say at this time.”
Wayne Pacelle is a fine and honorable man, but even if his organization hadn’t asked Nike to disassociate themselves from Michael Vick, I still will not be purchasing Nike products as long as Mr. Vick is a affiliated with their company. Unless Mr. Vick has a severe brain injury – which it seems very clear he does not have – how could he NOT know about the dog fighting on his own property? Mr. Vick participates in dog fighting and Nike is partnering with Mr. Vick… enough said.
I will be boycotting Nike as well as encouraging others to do the same. We will send a strong message to the world that we will no longer turn our backs to this kind of abuse.
Nike wants Vick they can have him. No one I know will be buying
from them again. I guess we know they want blood money