NBA Player Accuses Nike of Remaining Silent Over CCP’s Human Rights Record, Forced Labor

Boston Celtics prima Enes Kanter continued his disapproval of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s quality rights abuses by calling retired Nike for remaining “silent” connected the regime’s practices.

“Dear @Nike Stop the modern time SLAVERY, now!!! #HypocriteNike #EndUyghurForcedLabor,” Kanter said connected Twitter, publishing different video to his societal media accounts connected Monday.

The Turkish NBA player’s comments travel aft the sportswear marque was criticized by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for turning a unsighted oculus to allegations of forced labor successful China, arguing that they’re making American consumers complicit successful Beijing’s repressive policies.

Rights groups, researchers, erstwhile residents, and immoderate Western lawmakers accidental that Xinjiang authorities person facilitated forced labour by arbitrarily detaining astir 1 cardinal Uyghurs and different taste minorities successful a web of camps successful the northwestern region.

“Your institution says that you’re making a affirmative interaction successful our communities,” Kanter said. “But erstwhile it comes to China, Nike remains silent.”

Kanter criticized Nike for failing to code constabulary brutality successful China and for not speaking up astir the oppression of minorities, specified arsenic the Uyghurs, successful the country.

“You are frightened to talk up,” Kanter said.

“Who makes your shoes successful China? Do you adjacent know? There are truthful galore forced labour factories successful China,” Kanter said. “For instance, Uyghur forced labor. A modern-day slavery. And it is happening close present successful China …”

“Did you cognize that astir the full apparel and footwear manufacture is tainted by Uyghur forced labor? Many well-known planetary brands are implicated,” helium continued. “And yes, that includes 1 of the NBA’s biggest sponsors, Nike.”

Dear @Nike

Stop the modern time SLAVERY, now!!!#HypocriteNike#EndUyghurForcedLabor pic.twitter.com/tvX2k3wE4X

— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 25, 2021

“Nike claims that they bash not let immoderate forced labour successful their proviso chains. Yet, they don’t person the receipts to beryllium it. … Don’t forget, each clip you enactment those shoes connected your feet, oregon you enactment that t-shirt connected your back, determination are immoderate galore tears and truthful overmuch oppression, and truthful overmuch humor down it all,” helium added.

Nike’s main enforcement John Donahoe successful June said that the corp is simply a “brand that is of China,” amid caller allegations of the institution being connected to quality rights violations conducted by the CCP, the BBC reported.

“Nike likes to accidental ‘Just Do It.’ Well, what are you doing astir the enslaved labour that makes your shoes? That enslaved labour that makes you rich,” Kanter said. “To the proprietor of Nike—Phil Knight—I person a connection for you. How astir I publication level tickets for us, let’s alert to China together. We tin effort to sojourn these enslaved labour camps and you tin spot with your ain eyes.”

The Epoch Times has reached retired to Nike for comment.

The clip is Kanter’s 3rd denouncing China’s quality rights record. On Friday, helium posted a video criticizing the communist regime’s attraction of Uyghurs, and 2 days earlier, helium condemned the regime’s attraction of Tibet successful a akin video.

Dear Brutal Dictator XI JINPING and the Chinese Government

Tibet belongs to the Tibetan people!#FreeTibet pic.twitter.com/To4qWMXK56

— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 20, 2021

His archetypal video prompted a question of some enactment and choler from societal media users. Chinese-Australian cartoonist and governmental exile Badiucao took to Twitter to thank Kanter for speaking retired against the Chinese regime’s quality rights abuses successful Tibet.

However, connected China’s government-monitored societal media platforms similar Weibo, determination were galore aggravated comments, with immoderate Chinese calling for him to beryllium fired, portion others issued decease threats. Similar comments were besides posted by users to Kanter’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Weibo, one of China’s largest societal media platforms, arsenic of Thursday greeting barred users from searching “Kanter” connected its platform.

The NBA didn’t respond to a petition for remark by The Epoch Times.

Reuters contributed to this report.