A mourner remembering a police officer killed during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks referenced Nike’s new Colin Kaepernick ad Tuesday as he read some of the names of victims during a commemoration ceremony in New York City.
“And my brother and hero, Port Authority Police Officer David P. LeMagne, who believed in something, even when it meant to sacrifice everything,” the man said.
Nike’s new ad features the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who sparked on-field demonstrations protesting racial injustice and police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem. Many critics, including President Trump, perceive the demonstrations as a slight to the American flag and U.S. military personnel.
“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything,” Kaepernick states while looking into the camera. The ad prompted a series of mock ads featuring military heroes and others.
LeMagne died at the age of 27 while trying to rescue victims trapped in the World Trade Center, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He was survived by his parents and a sister.
Ceremonies are taking place around the nation to mark the 17th anniversary of the attacks, which claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article misstated the name of the Port Authority officer. It is David P. LeMagne, not David P. LeMange.
