Among the ballgowns and tuxedoes, veteran Broadway actress Jenifer Lewis used her Emmys outfit to make a political statement.
Lewis, the star of sitcom Black-ish, stepped onto the Emmys 'gold' carpet in a Nike sweatshirt, which she said was in support of NFL player and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick. "I am wearing Nike to applaud Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality," she told .
Kaepernick, who was quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, knelt down during the national anthem of every NFL game in 2016 to protest against police brutality against African-Americans. Earlier this month, he was announced as one of the faces of .
Both the print ad and televised commercial features a black and white close up of Kaepernick's face with the words, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."
The campaign garnered a wave of support across the US, and also condemnation from critics who believe the protest was unpatriotic. Kaepernick has felt the consequences of his protest, and has not been signed by another NFL team since becoming a free agent at the end of the 2016 NFL season.
He has since filed a grievance lawsuit against the NFL, stating that owners had colluded not to hire him.
For Lewis, who wanted to make a statement at the Emmys, Nike was an easy choice. "What can I do? What can I do that's meaningful? I'll wear Nike. I'll wear Nike to say thank you. Thank you for leading the resistance! We need more corporate America to stand up also," she said.
“Thank you, Colin. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being courageous. Thank you for taking a knee. Thank you.”
