Mike Pence Blasts Nike, Calls The NBA A ‘Wholly Owned Subsidiary’ Of China https://t.co/4bYBmxBiLO
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 25, 2019
The Vice President spoke at The Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. this week, Pence touched on the NBA’s recent actions regarding relationships with China, describing the NBA’s behavior as a “wholly owned subsidiary” of China. Via WSJ.com.
Vice President Pence also touched on the apparel giant Nike, saying the company was “checking its social conscience at the door.”
Pence’s depiction of the NBA and their main sponsor Nike is directly related to a prior tweet from Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Morey’s tweet in question read, “Fight for Freedom, stand with Hong Kong.” The simple tweet was intended to show support for oppressed citizens currently protesting and fighting for their freedom in Hong Kong. Via the Daily Caller.
VP Mike Pence: "In siding with the Chinese Communist Party, in silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly-owned subsidiary of that authoritarian regime." pic.twitter.com/eSexmcQjIW
— The Hill (@thehill) October 25, 2019
Daryl Morey’s tweet unleashed immense amounts of backlash from communist China, which in return prompted an unwarranted apology from the NBA. At this time, the professional basketball league decided to protect their bottom line instead of supporting the need for personal freedoms.
“Some of the NBA’s biggest players and owners, who routinely exercise their freedom to criticize this country, lose their voices when it comes to the freedom and rights of other peoples.”
“In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime.” Vice President Pence said.
VP Mike Pence then turned his criticism on the sports apparel company Nike, who after Morey's tweet, pulled apparel items from their Chinese markets after an employed Nike designer publicly voiced his support for the protesters of Hong Kong. Via the WSJ.com.
Vice President Mike Pence criticized the National Basketball Association and Nike over their position toward China during the Hong Kong protests https://t.co/PBlTnVZ5zO
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 25, 2019
Nike not only pulled specific items from the Chinese market, the apparel giant also removed all Houston Rockets gear, while cancelling all of the organizations scheduled events in the country following Morey’s tweet.
“Nike promotes itself as a so called ‘social-justice champion,’ but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door,” VP Pence concluded.
**Image Source: Flickr.com. Uploaded by Michael Vadon**
