An Alabama grocery store owner has pulled all Pepsi products from his store shelves.
Alabama Store owner Phillip Stewart pulled all PepsiCo bottles off his shelf, then took to Facebook to explain why.
Stewart wrote: “This may cause me to lose some business, but here goes. S&Z supermarket currently will not be selling 20 ounces 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.”
Colin Kaepernick was the first player that started the kneeling movement in 2016. Other players have continued the trend. They had said the reason for the kneeling is to bring attention to police violence against African Americans.
Stewart will have to wait a while until he can stock Pepsi bottles back on his shelves. The NFL logos will remain on Pepsi and Gatorade bottles until the Super Bowl in 2019.
Stewart told local NBC affiliate WAFF that he will hold firm on this decision: “I don’t want to support them in any way, because I feel like it’s just wrong. I can not in good conscious sell the product because it does have the logo on it.”
Stewart said: “I pulled them myself, the customers didn’t know I was doing this. I sold the product that I had that did not have the logo on it. And I told my rep as well as the delivery guy that I did not want those brought into the store because I would not sell them.”
Stewart further explained to CBS local affiliate WHNT, that he’s not opposed to the cause that the NFL players are trying to raise attention too but doesn’t agree with kneeling during the national anthem.
Stewart explained further: “The cause is just. I think there are other ways to deal with it. This has brought attention to it I’m sure there is good that comes from this, I just don’t agree with the tactic.”
“This helps me sleep at night. I can sleep knowing that I’m not supporting somebody that’s doing something I don’t believe in.”
Besides not selling the bottles, Stewart said he won’t watch any NFL football after the players protested. He explained to ABC affiliate WAAY 31: “I’m just trying not really to make a statement. I just don’t want to support anything dealing with the NFL. If I see 3 minutes of a game, I feel guilty. I get up and turn the TV off or go outside. I can’t watch it.”
Not Everyone who comes into the store is giving Stewart’s actions much thought. Aaron Bishop, an ex-Marine, tells WAFF 48: “Do I personally care? No, I don’t. I’ll grab a Pepsi, I’ll hit my Nike golf clubs. That will make some people mad, but I’ve got other things to worry about.”
Susan Riggs, another customer, supports Stewart’s decision, though, stating: “I stand behind S & Z 100%, and I hope other people support him and pull together.”
