An Illinois mattress salesman caused an uproar across the internet after posting photos of a new creative use for Colin Kaepernick’s 49’ers jersey.
According to Daily Mail:
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest has one suburban Chicago mattress store owner riled up.
Dave Gerwing, the owner of Beds Beds Beds in Crestwood, Illinois, was so incensed by Kaepernick that he placed a replica of his 49ers jersey on the floor at the entrance to his store so that patrons could use it to wipe their feet, the local television stationCBS 2 reported.
A sign that reads ‘Please feel free to wipe your feet’ was placed beside the jersey.
Kaepernick has gained notoriety for kneeling through the national anthem before his team’s games as a sign of protest against police violence and racial oppression in the US.
His act was mimicked by other plays in the NFL as well as professional athletes in other sports. High school players have also expressed solidarity with Kaepernick by kneeling during the anthem.
The quarterback has sparked controversy that has not abated, with supporters arguing that he was exercising constitutional rights that guarantee freedom of expression.
According to CBS 2, some customers walked over the jersey, while others simply walked around.
‘We do have racial issues in this country,’ Gerwing says. ‘Is this country perfect? Absolutely not. There are issues that do need to be dealt with, but it’s pretty, pretty good, if you ask me.’
The owner of the mattress store denies his stunt has anything to do with Kaepernick’s race.
‘This is not a race issue for me,’ Gerwing says. ‘If this were Eli Manning doing this, his jersey would be on the floor right now as well.’