Shoe company New Balance have responded after Neo-Nazis claimed their footwear as ‘The Official Shoes Of White People’ and made them part of their uniform in support of Donald Trump.
Earlier this month, comments made by a company spokesman were interpreted by many as the belief that Trump’s victory in the US Presidential election would be good for business.
New Balance: "The Obama admin turned a deaf ear to us & frankly w/ Pres-Elect Trump we feel things are going to move in the right direction"
— Sara Germano (@germanotes) November 9, 2016
The led white supremacist website The Stormer to declare that “New Balance is making a gesture to support White people and to support US manufacturing. We need to support that.”
They added: “I see New Balances now becoming the official shoes of White people.”
New Balance then responded with a comment on Twitter. “New Balance does not tolerate bigotry or hate in any form,” they said in a statement. “One of our officials was recently asked on a trade policy that was taken our of context. As a 110-year old company with five factories in the US and thousands of employees worldwide from all races, genders, cultures and sexual orientations, New Balance is a values-driven organization and culture that believes in humanity, integrity, community and mutual respect for people around the world.
“We have been and always will be committed to manufacturing in the United States.”
— New Balance (@newbalance) November 15, 2016
However, The Stormer refused to accept New Balance’s dissociation – and continued to encourage Neo Nazi’s to wear their shoes.
“I want to make it clear that I have not repealed my endorsement of them, and am still encouraging people to go buy these shoes,” they wrote in response. “I have myself ordered a pair, as well as a t-shirt and some much-needed sweatpants for the gym.
“The company is now being attacked by Jews and others for having supported a pro-nationalist, pro-American Republican position by endorsing Trump’s plan to bring back manufacturing to the United States. So, whether they are comfortable openly identifying as a Republican company is irrelevant to me. What I am concerned about – and the reason I support them – is that they have worked very hard as a company to keep their manufacturing in this country.”
They added: “Personally, I believe that New Balance is a Republican company, and that their response to pressure is just that – a response to pressure.”
New Balance’s original comments pushed many to share footage of them burning or disposing of their shoes:
— Martin (@MMArtinitus) November 10, 2016
— Flop (@jaredgreenberg3) November 10, 2016
— Bob With The Cool Shorts (@tbrooks__) November 10, 2016
Below – Green Day tell us about the mood in America after Trump’s win