A protester holds a version of the Betsy Ross American flag during the Tea Party Express rally in Washington on Sept. 12, 2009. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
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A Betsy Ross flag was spotted flying as part of an 18-flag display outside San Francisco City Hall Thursday.
Controversy over the Betsy Ross flag erupted Monday after Nike pulled a shoe featuring the American flag following a complaint from former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who alleged the flag was a symbol of racism.
But it doesn’t appear Kaepernick has ever commented on the Betsy Ross flag that has been a part of the “Pavilion of American Flags” in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza since 1964.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick walks off the field after warm ups before an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers in San Diego on Sept. 1, 2016. Denis Poroy/AP Photo
The Betsy Ross flag flew outside San Francisco City Hall for the entirety of Kaepernick’s tenure with the San Fransisco 49ers from 2011 through 2016.
The 18-flag display was the brainchild of businessman Stanely Bergman, according to the San Francisco Chronical. The flags were first raised with fanfare on Flag Day, June 14, 1964, with a military band and former San Francisco Mayor John Shelley in attendance, the Chronical reported.
A Confederate battle flag was a part of the display for several months in 1964, but it was ordered replaced after being cut down during a protest, according to the Chronical.
“Thank you for doing the right thing,” Newsom, a Democrat, wrote in a tweet Tuesday to Nike. “CA is open for business and welcomes those that represent the best of our American values.”
Neither San Francisco Mayor London Breed or Nike immediately responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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