Hundreds of Nike consumers voiced outrage this week after the sports apparel company decided to feature Colin Kaepernick in its latest advertisement campaign.

NFL Fans Boycott Nike Over Colin Kaepernick Ads

Fans quickly started burning Nike shoes and other sportswear after the brand chose the free-agent NFL quarterback as the face of the 30th anniversary edition of its “Just Do It” ad campaign.

Kaepernick started drawing headlines in August 2016 after he began a series of controversial national anthem protests before football games in order to make a statement about racial inequality and police brutality against minorities in the United States. His actions sparked similar protests across the NFL and other major sports leagues.

Last week, a judge ruled in favor of Kapernick in a case involving a grievance he filed against all 32 NFL teams accusing them of collusion to keep him out of the league. The quarterback hasn’t played in the league since the San Francisco 49ers released him in March 2017.

The ad featuring Kaepernick includes the phrase: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything,” which seems appropriate to describe the free agent’s philosophy on making socio-political statements.

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Dozens of fans shared photos and videos of themselves burning or otherwise destroying their Nike shoes as a way to boycott the company for its most recent decision.

Other fans appeared to support Nike and Kaepernick, however, by purchasing merchandise from the brand.

Nike’s new ads also feature New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. — who recently became one of the highest-paid wideouts in the league — and rookie Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who had his left hand amputated as a child.

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Kaepernick has received tributes from many organizations for his social justice work over the last year. In April, he was named Amnesty International’s 2018 Ambassador of Conscience.

The U.S. women’s national hockey team ended their boycott of the IIHF Women’s World Championship on Tuesday night after reaching a four-year deal with USA Hockey, their governing body, regarding compensation.

U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Reach Wage Deal, End Boycott

According to Craig Custance of ESPN, the U.S. women will practice in Plymouth, Michigan on Thursday. The tournament begins there on Friday with a game against rival Team Canada.

No financial terms of the agreement were released. However, Custance revealed there are ‘major increases in compensation, travel and insurance benefits and a committee to give women more of a voice in USA Hockey,’ all benefits to make them more equal to their male counterparts.

The women’s team captain, Meghan Duggan, and 22 of her teammates announced their boycott on March 15, citing frustration with the lack of a deal granting them adequate compensation. Duggan told USA TODAY Sports that she called 500 other American players to ask for their help in thwarting USA Hockey’s plan to create a replacement team.

“We said this was about family,” Duggan said. “We are all a family, a family of hockey players of all ages, from the past to the present to the future. This process, without everyone involved, didn’t have a chance if we didn’t stick together.”

The players will reportedly earn around $70,000 each per year, and possibly more than $100,000 in Olympic years if they win gold, according to people familiar with the deal who are not authorized to release the figures told USA TODAY Sports.

“Girls and women hockey players across the country stood united,” Duggan said. “You can’t have a success of this magnitude without that type of support, but this was much than just (better benefits) for the 23 girls on this roster.”

Here is an excerpt of the joint press release issued by the women players and USA Hockey:

“Today reflects everyone coming together and compromising in order to reach a resolution for the betterment of the sport,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. “We’ll now move forward together knowing we’ll look back on this day as one of the most positive in the history of USA Hockey.”

“Our sport is the big winner today,” said Meghan Duggan, captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “We stood up for what we thought was right and USA Hockey’s leadership listened. In the end, both sides came together. I’m proud of my teammates and can’t thank everyone who supported us enough. It’s time now to turn the page. We can’t wait to play in the World Championship later this week in front of our fans as we try and defend our gold medal.”

“We look forward to the future with great anticipation,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “This process has, in the end, made us better.”

“I’m glad we could come together and reach an arrangement that will have a positive and lasting impact,” said Hilary Knight, veteran forward of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “This is an inspirational time and we’re excited to get back on the ice and represent our country.”

“The action taken today is an important statement of USA Hockey’s commitment and support of our women’s national team program and female hockey overall,” said Donna Guariglia, treasurer of USA Hockey and former chair of USA Hockey’s Girls’ and Women’s Section.

The turning point in the negotiations came when around 70 of USA Hockey’s 92 members of the board of directors met for a conference call Monday.

Duggan is one of the directors. She recused herself from voting, but asked and answered questions. Former U.S. women’s players were also on the call as directors.

Ogrean believed the presence of the women’s players on the call helped the process.

“It was really good for a lot of board members to hear from the players and really good for the players to hear from the board members,” Ogrean said. “At the end, the board got it. They told the executive committee go forward and do what you think needs to be done responsibly.”

The U.S., who have won six of the past seven women’s world championships, will begin arriving in Plymouth on Wednesday afternoon.

“We are excited and Team USA is excited that the original team selected to play in for Team USA will be on the ice in Michigan,” Duggan said. “We are 100% ready.”

SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 20: Hilary Knight #21 of United States and Meghan Agosta-Marciano #2 of Canada in action during the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

The U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team announced Wednesday that it will sit out the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, refusing to play in the tournament until its players receive what they consider fair wages and equitable support from the organization.

U.S. Women’s Hockey Boycott World Championship Over Wage Dispute

The World Championship is set to begin March 31 in Plymouth, Michigan, and players were scheduled to arrive at training camp net week. Team USA is the defending champion. The law firm representing the U.S. Women’s team, (who have won the World Championship six times) Ballard Spahr, announced the boycott.

“I don’t know why in 2017 women have to fight for the same support, treatment and wages (as men) within the same organization, but that’s why our team is taking a stand,” captain Meghan Duggan, a two-time Olympian and member of six World Championship teams, told USA TODAY Sports.

Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, stated there will be a U.S. team participating in the World Championships even if the current players boycott.

“We have had that conversation on an ongoing basis for the last couple of weeks, and asking my staff as early as this morning if we have a Plan B and I was given a succinct, positive one-word answer: Yes,” Ogrean said.

According to John Langel, one of the lawyers representing the team, the players are seeking a four-year contract. The women’s team have never had a collective bargaining agreement with USA Hockey.

Asked if there is a way to avoid the boycott, Langel simply said, “We have invited (USA Hockey) to continue discussions.”

Langel added that players have contracts with USA Hockey individually and receive $1,000 per month for six months before the Winter Olympics and receive no other compensation from the organization. The U.S. Olympic Committee pays member of the women’s national team a stipend to represent the country at the World Championship and a bonus based on Olympic success.

“In our role as the national governing body, USA Hockey trains and selects teams for international competition,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. “USA Hockey’s role is not to employ athletes and we will not do so. USA Hockey will continue to provide world-leading support for our athletes.”

According to its news release, USA Hockey said it would offer “additional support stipends and incentives for medals” that could increase a player’s income to almost $85,000 during the six-month Olympic training and performance period. That sum would be in addition to “housing allowance, travel allowances, meal expenses, medical and disability insurance.”

Members of the U.S. women’s team, meanwhile, sent out the following tweet on Thursday:

“To our loyal fans,

We are so thankful for the outpouring of support from across the country and around the world. We recognize that many of you have already purchased tickets to the upcoming World Championship, and we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached so that we can return to the ice as soon as possible. Please know that in our negotiations for equitable support, we are standing up for the next generation, especially the young girls who deserve access to equal opportunities. Again, we are extremely hopeful that we will be in Plymouth, Michigan at the end of the month to defend our titles as world champions.

Love,

The US Women’s National Team”

The World Championship will not affect the U.S.’s qualification for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. The U.S. is ranked No. 1 by the IIHF, and remains one of the strongest hockey countries along with Canada.