A 16-year-old employee was sent home from work for wearing a Colin Kaepernick jersey to “Wear A Football Jersey Day” at a Kroger grocery store in Springfield, Ohio.
Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid kneel in protest during the national anthem (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Kroger manager sent Elijah Scott home to change out of his Kaepernick jersey after a customer complained and said he “wasn’t going to shop there again,” the New York Daily News reports. Many of the employees working at the grocery store that day were wearing NFL jerseys — Elijah was the only one asked to go home and change.
When Elijah returned home from work, his mom, Diane Scott, immediately called to speak to the manager, who stood by his decision to send the young man home. They told her “It was September 11th and Elijah was on company time and would not be allowed to disrespect customers,” NY Daily News reports.
“They should’ve stood up for their employee and just let that customer go. My son didn’t do anything wrong,” Elijah’s mother told the Daily News. (RELATED: Kaepernick Jersey Sales Jump To No. 1 In The NFL)
Elijah posted a photo of himself on Snapchat leaving work, still wearing his Kaepernick jersey with the caption “discrimination.” He also posted a picture of the flyer at the Kroger for football jersey day with the caption “I broke no rules.”
Colin Kaepernick signs autographs for fans after a game. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kaepernick’s protest of racial injustice is continuing to spread among players in the NFL as well as inspire others to join him in support. The San Francisco quarterback’s jersey sales have skyrocketed due to his national anthem protest, becoming the top-seller on NFLShop.com.