ATHENS, AL – Protests work two ways. And one Alabama store owner has decided to protest a protest by refusing to sell Pepsi products in his Athens, Alabama, store because the bottles don the National Football League Logo. Phillip Stewart, the owner of S&Z Grocery and gas station, is protesting NFL players kneeling during the “Star Spangled Banner” in protest of police brutality toward African Americans.
Stewart made his stance public via Facebook last week, saying, “This may cause me to lose some business, but here goes. S&Z supermarket currently will not be selling 20 ounce Pepsi or Diet Pepsi. These two items are currently produced with the NFL logo on them. I refuse to sell the product until the logo is removed. I will not bow down in order to the make a dollar as long as the athletes are allowed to bow down and disrespect the flag and country that I love.”
Stewart’s announcement was met with both support from Facebook users who commented that they back his stance against the NFL and its players, and criticism over Stewart not understanding the reason the players are kneeling in protest. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)
One Facebook user responded, “I’m sorry but you don’t even understand the reason they knelt. It had Nothing to do with disrespect of the flag or America. It makes me angry that so many people have chosen to pretend they are being upstanding over something they don’t have a grasp on. You do what you want with your store sir. Pepsi will still be here when you don’t sell it because of a logo. Hope you don’t sell beer or anything else with the logo. What a shame this has been blown so out of proportion.”
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Another user responded by saying, “Thank-you for standing for America! I commend you for patriotism and willingness to place your values and ethics above business. Remain strong against the sham of “kneeling”. These despicable players are nothing more than political activists and community disorganzers. They are aligned with Saul Alinsky and his radical agenda. God bless you!”
One user reminded Stewart that PepsiCo also owns Fritos, Doritos, Cheetos, Tostitos, Lays, Ruffles, Rold Gold, Sun Chips, Cracker Jack, Tropicana, Gatorade, Quaker Foods, Quaker Oaks, Naked Juice, Aquafina, Aunt Jemima, Lipton, Brisk, Rockstar and Ocean Spray Products. among others, so if the store is still selling those products, his protest is not really affecting Pepsi as a corporation.
Photo Credit: Sean Ryan/IPS/Shutterstock