Tomorrow, the second Int'l Nike Mobilization rally is
planned for 50 U.S. cities and a handful of locations
overseas, according to SCRIPPS HOWARD's David Nielsen.
Nielsen: "The size and intensity will vary from city to
city, but organizers say they have no doubt they will make
an impact." The activist group, which is protesting against
Nike's labor practices, held its first rally six months ago.
Nike spokesperson Vada Manager said the first protest "was
not a large factor," but that the "prepublicity was larger
than the event itself." Nielsen writes that "in light of
its recent misfortunes, Nike isn't about to laugh off this
latest assault. In fact, the company may be fighting back."
Manager: "We are clearly aware (of their protest). We can't
reveal what we're doing, but it wouldn't surprise me if
there are Nike people at the sites. There's a great need to
counter misinformation." On Saturday, protest groups will
"target" Foot Locker stores, "a prominent Nike account,"
including stores near universities. Jeff Ballenger, Dir of
Press for Change: "We've gotten nowhere beating on Nike's
door. We just want Foot Locker as Nike's biggest customer to
start feeling the heat, too" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/17).
DUTCH DITCH? The transfer of Nike's Keith Peters from
Beaverton, OR, to Holland was examined by Frank DiGiacomo of
the N.Y. OBSERVER. DiGiacomo reports that Peters was head
of PR in Beaverton when Nike Chair Phil Knight spoke on-
camera with filmmaker Michael Moore, who included the scene
in his film "The Big One." Peters was transferred to
Hilversum, Holland, where he is the Dir of Communications
for Nike Europe. Peters has been in Holland for about 16
months, "which would have meant he departed not long after"
Knight's interview with Moore. Peters denied that his
transfer "was some kind of punishment" for allowing Knight
to be interviewed by Moore. While Peters "conceded that he
was 'involved' in the decision" to put Knight in front of
Moore's cameras, he said "it's not unusual for people from
Beaverton to kind of come over here and contribute to"
Nike's European push. Nike spokesperson Vada Manager termed
Peters transfer as a promotion (N.Y. OBSERVER, 4/20).
