A Louisiana Sheriff said this week that his office will no longer Purchase Ford Motor Co. products after the automaker announced they supported the NFL protests late last month.
In a letter posted to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office’s official Facebook page on Wednesday, Sheriff Julian Whittington called on law enforcement agencies to stand against Ford and the NFL.
The letter, addressed to Hixson Ford of Alexandria, reads:
The Bossier Sheriff’s Office has, for many years now, enjoyed a pleasurable business relationship with your community. Ford vehicles have been greatly utilized with the law enforcement community both for us and throughout the entire United States. Ford has been a part of American history, and has stood for American values. However, the recent events surrounding the NFL, its players and their audacity to thumb their collective noses at the American Flag, the American military as well as their obvious disdain for the profession of law enforcement in general; forces me to take a stand.
The Bossier Sheriff’s Office will no longer purchase Ford products as long as Ford sides with these who have no regard for the men and women who protect and serve this great nation. Yes, the NFL players have a right to protest as they deem necessary, but we, the Bossier Sheriff’s Office and the taxpayers of Bossier Parish have a right to spend our money elsewhere. I realize that Ford Motor Co. has made this decision and may not necessarily be supported by your company, but, you are our dealer. It is my hope that this letter will cause you to encourage Ford Motor Co. to change their advertising choice and cease to support the NFL with advertising dollars until the NFL leadership demands its players show proper respect for our nation’s colors.
I will be sending a copy of this letter to each of the 63 other Sheriffs in the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association President, the National Sheriff’s Association President, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, encouraging them to take a similar stand where Ford products are concerned. We can no longer stand by idly by and allow similar the fabric of this country to be dismantled. The men and women of law enforcement make it possible for the Ford Motor Co. to do business in a safe and secure environment. It’s time they took a stand for each of them.
The national anthem protests started in August 2016 when former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he no longer would show respect for the American flag.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said.
A separate post on Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office’s official Facebook page Thursday night said that the owner of the Ford dealership had no idea that Ford took that stance:
After Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington’s letter to the Hixson Automotive Group in Alexandria was received by Dallas L. Hixson, the Sheriff discussed the issue with Mr. Hixson. Mr. Hixson informed Sheriff Whittington that he was not aware of Ford Motor Company’s support for NFL players who wish to protest during the National Anthem or during the game. He informed Sheriff Whittington that such a stance concerns him as well, and he will be taking the Sheriff’s letter with him to Detroit to present to Ford Motor Co. leadership in the near future.