By a 3-2 vote, the North Smithfield Town Council has approved a resolution requesting the school committee, and all municipal departments to refrain from buying Nike products. The resolution – introduced by council president John Beauregard – was the subject of nearly all speakers at the open forum which began the council meeting, held in the three-quarters-full Middle School cafeteria.

At least one-and-a-half dozen speakers addressed the subject; all but one opposed it. Several pointed out the Constitution guarantees former NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s right to take a knee and otherwise protest what he sees as racism and police brutality. Others considered the resolution itself an expression of racism.

One speaker, North Smithfield resident Stephen Hoyle, Jr. – a Vietnam-era US Marine Corps veteran – said he wasn’t there to defend Kaepernick’s free-speech rights because they’re guaranteed by the Constitution Hoyle and others fought for; but he added he’s come to “respect and admire” Kaepernick for sticking up for his position.

Before taking the roll-call vote, council president Beauregard – a retired Rhode Island State Trooper with 25 years of service, pointed out the council heard from more speakers than had signed up – a few from out of town – and didn’t hold them to the usual two minutes.

Beauregard also emphasized the resolution is not binding on any town department, adding he wrote it because as a former policeman he doesn’t believe Kaepernick is “sacrificing everything” – he’s making good money as a Nike spokesman. Pointing out the time Kaepernick wore socks equating police with pigs, Beauregard says it’s the police officers who get killed on the job – and their families – who are sacrificing everything, and that’s what drove him to write the resolution.