LAKELAND, Fla.- A Lakeland sports bar has taken a unique stand against the recent protests sparked by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Lakeland’s Winners Circle Sportsbar & Grill, owned by Bill Alcock, has taped Kaepernick jersey decals to the inside of the urinals in the men’s restroom. Alcock also added that he isn’t worried about being politically correct.
“This bar is politically incorrect. We say Merry Christmas, God Bless. We salute the flag and things like that,” Alcock said to WFLA.
Seeing Kaepernick choose not to salute the flag did not sit well with Alcock.
“When the whole Colin Kaepernick thing came about, him not standing for the national anthem, I was kind of offended by it. My dad was a Marine. I just thought it was very, very disrespectful,” Alcock said.
The jerseys featured in the urinals have a number 7 on them and also say Kaeperd**k instead of Kaepernick.
Most customers are having a good laugh about the decals, others don’t agree. Facebook photos have been swirling from customers supporting the decision to do this and some not supporting it.
One person commented on one of the photos saying Kaepernick shouldn’t be called a name for expressing his beliefs.
“Some people kind of agree with Kaepernick’s right to not stand for the national anthem because it’s a First Amendment right,” customer Mike Lee said to WFLA.
In defense to those that don’t agree with Alcock, he said it is his First Amendment right as well.
“I do believe in freedom of speech and everything like that, but it’s just a little message that you not disrespect the flag, and don’t disrespect our military. That’s what I think it is. This gives you a little chance to disrespect his jersey, a target of sorts,” he said.
There is no word of how long Alcock will keep the Kaepernick decals in the urinals.