Reebok launches political t-shirt to benefit Women's March

By

Edina Sultanik

Published
Feb 13, 2017

Reebok is getting political with a new message tee featuring the feminist - charged slogan – “Nevertheless, She Persisted.”  That line was delivered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bar Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts from speaking out in opposition to the nomination of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General last week. His words were seen by many as an example of men trying to silence women’s voices, and became an overnight rallying cry for Warren’s supporters.
 

Last Tuesday night Warren had attempted to read a letter that Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., had written 30 years ago opposing the nomination of Jeff Sessions for a federal judgeship. But McConnell and Republicans invoked Rule XIX, which forbids a senator from demeaning another senator, in order to prevent Warren from reading the letter.  Warren would not back down. 
 
"She was warned. She was given an explanation, Nevertheless, she persisted,” McConnell said.  The phrase quickly went viral.  #ShePersisted and #LetLizSpeak were among the top trending topics on Twitter in the U.S. last week, and have appeared on tees and other merchandise on sites like Etsy. Reebok is the first major brand to adopt the slogan, and is donating $20 for every t-shirt sold toward the newly formed Women's March movement.

“We are inspired and empowered by the senator’s recent statements and these t-shirts are our way of showing our support for all women who continue to persist and break down barriers,” says Reebok’s Senior Director of Brand Management, Inga Stenta, in a news release.  “As a women's first brand, we stand behind the Women’s March and believe we have the resources and platform to contribute in a meaningful way.”