Protesters "complaining about unfair labor practices
and overpriced shoes descended on Nike stores Saturday" in
what organizers called an "international day of solidarity,"
according to USA TODAY's Gary Graves. Around 200 people
"marched and chanted" outside the NikeTown store in OR,
"carrying signs, bullhorns and a 20-foot tall puppet" of
Nike Chair Phil Knight. Around 75 people picketed outside
NikeTown in Chicago (USA TODAY, 4/20). Max White, head of
the "Justice: Do It, Nike!" coalition that sponsored the
rallies, said, "It's hard to imagine an organization that
has taken this much flack for so long." Nike Dir of
Communications Lee Weinstein: "We feel we have made a lot of
progress on these issues. We're certainly not perfect. But
when we find problems and mistakes, we fix them immediately"
(AP/DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/19). In Chicago, Rosalind Rossi
reported that the rally against Nike drew the "support" of
IL gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard and U.S. Rep. Luis
Gutierrez (D-IL). Poshard said he was not advocating a Nike
boycott, but attended the protest to "stand up for economic
rights" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/19). In CO, about 50
activists marched, and in Denver, Deborah Frazier reported
that the protesters stopped at a downtown Foot Locker store
"for about 10 minutes," marching in a circle outside and
shouting, "Nike exploits" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 4/19).
