A police officer has launched his own 'Honor and Respect' sneaker after Nike pulled their 'July 4' shoe which featured the original Betsy Ross flag following objections from NFL star Colin Kaepernick.
Ron Slagle, an Air Force veteran, from Iowa, has said the proceeds he takes from selling the sneaker will go to funds that help officers who are suffering with post traumatic stress disorder.
He's added that he hopes those hoping to get their hands on the discontinued Nike Air Max 1s will purchase his product instead.
Ron Slagle, an Air Force veteran, from Iowa, has said the proceeds he takes from selling the sneaker (pictured) will go to funds that help officers who are suffering with post traumatic stress disorder
Proceeds from the sale of the black, white and blue sneaker will go to it Code 9, which helps all First Responders, and Blue H.E.L.P, who look after police officers with PTSD.
Nike dropped its $140 sneakers featuring an early American flag, known as 'Betsy Ross', created in celebration of July Fourth after Kaepernick complained the symbol was offensive.
RELATED ARTICLES
'More in line with their views': Don Jr. slams Nike and... 
Conservative niece of Martin Luther King claims Kaepernick... Nike pulls patriotic $140 Betsy Ross-flag themed 4th of July... 
Nike's Betsy Ross-flag themed sneakers are selling for more...
Share this article
Share 40 sharesThe 31-year-old quarterback, who is a Nike ambassador, said the old American flag emblazoned on the sneakers' heel was offensive because of its links to an era of slavery.
Nike had already shipped the Air Max 1s to retailers when it asked for them to be returned without explanation.
'Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag,' a Nike spokeswoman said.
The Air Max 1 USA shoes, created in celebration of the July Fourth holiday, were set to go on sale this week
Nike has reportedly recalled sneakers featuring an early American flag, known as 'Betsy Ross', after Colin Kaepernick complained the symbol was offensive
Speaking of Kaepernick's objection, Slagle told Fox & Friends: 'The Betsy Ross objection with the shoe for Nike translates into a loss of history.
'And I believe at times that's the biggest loss we have is really knowing what the history about that is.'
The Betsy Ross flag, which features 13 white stars in a circle representing the 13 original U.S. colonies, was created during the American Revolution.
Kaepernick (left) ignited a nationwide controversy in 2016 when he decided to protest inequality and racist police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem
It was a time when lawmakers advocated for the expansion of slavery and declared that those born into slavery were slaves for life.
The flag has more recently been appropriated by some extremist groups opposed to the country's increasing diversity.
Twitter users had mixed reactions to the news of the recall.
'The Betsy Ross flag has been turned into a symbol of white nationalism and domestic extremism.
Betsy Ross shows the first design of the American flag to George Washington in Philadelphia in the painting above
Twitter users had mixed reactions to the news, with some tweeting their support for Nike and Kaepernick for scrapping the shoes
'Conservatives will whine, but Colin Kaepernick was right to speak out and Nike was right to pull the products,' one person wrote.
WHY BETSY ROSS FLAG IS ANTI-DIVERSITY SYMBOL
The Betsy Ross flag has long been acknowledged as the first to use the stripes, stars, and the colors red, white, and blue which have now come to symbolize the United States. The flag was made in 1776 at the request of George Washington, among others.
Ross made the flag with 13 stars in a circle to represent each of the 13 colonies, setting them in blue on a red-and-white striped field.
The flag was officially used for the first time in 1792, and now versions of it fly at select sites and hang in museums across the country.
It was created and later adopted at a time when slavery still ran rampant in the colonies, and because of this it has been adopted by white nationalists and other anti-diversity groups.
The Patriot Movement uses the flag as a symbol of their movement, which since the 1950s has promoted white supremacy and antisemitism.
Members of the movement believe that individual liberties are in jeopardy due to unconstitutional actions.
<!- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->AdvertisementAnother Twitter user thanked Kaepernick for 'shedding light on the fact that Betsy Ross’ flag is racist. I’m sitting here shaking now that I know that my history teachers left this vital piece of information from me.'
Others called Kaepernick 'un-American'.
'Nike just pulled a 4th of July themed shoe feat a Betsy Ross American Flag because complained saying it was “offensive”?!?!?! Can we just for ONE DAY Attempt to be Americans and be PROUD especially during the 4th of July! The day we became America?!,' one person wrote.
Kaepernick ignited a nationwide controversy in 2016 when he decided to protest inequality and racist police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem.
Since starting the demonstrations during the NFL preseason three years ago, Kaepernick has been joined by scores of other NFL players in the face of intense criticism, namely from President Donald Trump, who has referred to the protesters as 'sons of b******'. However, others have branded him a 'hero' and praised him for speaking out about racially inequality.
The demonstrations were primarily a reaction to the deaths of African-American men at the hands of law enforcement.
The free agent quarterback last played in the NFL in 2016, going unsigned since the kneeling protest.
In February, he settled collusion grievances that alleged the league and its teams conspired to keep Kaepernick and his former teammate Eric Reid unsigned because of their political activism.
Others were furious at the decision and called the controversial former NFL-star 'un-American'
The settlement was for less than $10 million.
Last September, Nike introducing Kaepernick as the new face of its 'Just Do It' ad campaign.
A month later, the company released a long-sleeved black t-shirt with the controversial free agent quarterback's name emblazoned in reflective lettering along the back, and the $50 item sold out within only a few hours.
The move to make the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback the face of its ad campaign generated a backlash among some consumers, who set fire to Nike shoes.
Donald Trump Jr has suggested that Nike release a shoe with the hammer-and-sickle logo of the former Soviet Union after the brand discontinued its design with a flag from the American Revolution. In a tweet Wednesday he said the design was 'more in line with their views
But others were vocal in their support for Nike - which is one of the NFL's biggest partners.
Despite the initial backlash and a share drop, the company reportedly made around $6 billion from the move.
Since Nike pulled the controversial shoe, they've faced criticism from Donald Trump Jr. and its appeared online for $2500.
Don Jr posted a photo of a communist-inspired red shoe to Twitter on Wednesday, writing: 'If the Betsy Ross Flag, the flag of the American Revolution, is too offensive for Nike to commemorate The 4th of July maybe Nike should go with this... seems to be more in line with their views.'
The president's son has long been a vocal critic of Kaepernick
On Tuesday morning, the shoes, which were created in celebration of July Fourth, were going for $2,500 on StockX.
Nike reportedly discontinued the Betsy Ross shoes after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick (left) expressed concerns about the flag's connection to slavery. Don Jr (right) has been a critic of Kaepernick ever since the athlete ignited a nationwide controversy in 2016 by refusing to stand during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality
According to the StockX site (pictured), around 67 pairs of the shoes have been sold at an average price of $701
According to the StockX site, around 67 pairs of the shoes have been sold at an average price of $701.
The sneaker company's shares were down less than 1 per cent in early trading Tuesday after its decision to not to release the shoes
Following Nike's decision to pull the sneakers, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey ordered the state's Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentives for Nike to construct a $185million plant in Goodyear, Arizona.
In a series of tweets, Ducey said that 'words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision'.
'I am embarrassed for Nike,' the governor tweeted, adding that Tuesday was supposed to be a good day in Arizona 'with the announcement of a major Nike investment in Goodyear, AZ'.
'Nike is an iconic American brand and American company. This country, our system of government and free enterprise have allowed them to prosper and flourish,' the governor tweeted.
Arizona Gov Doug Ducey (pictured) has ordered the state's Commerce Authority to withdraw incentives for Nike to build a $185M plant in the state
'Instead of celebrating American history the week of our nation’s independence, Nike has apparently decided that Betsy Ross is unworthy, and has bowed to the current onslaught of political correctness and historical revisionism.
'It is a shameful retreat for the company. American businesses should be proud of our country’s history, not abandoning it.
'Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours. I’ve ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here,' the governor said.
Ducey tweeted that 'Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike'.
'We don’t need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation’s history.'
Ducey said in conclusion that 'it shouldn’t take a controversy over a shoe for our kids to know who Betsy Ross is'.
'A founding mother. Her story should be taught in all American schools. In the meantime, it’s worth googling her.'
The sneaker company was planning to construct a $185million plant in Goodyear, Arizona that would employee more than 500 people.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKEc32Sa25uZ4CkuaqvxGamn56ZmLKzecOeqqKfnqh6tLTOnmShp56kv264wLBknqaWpL%2Bkscyepa1lfp64pnnPrqOlnZRij6bA0rJki6ejqHqnuMCgZKymlZa4pr6NoaumpA%3D%3D