The Detroit chapter of the National Action Network says after meeting with officials from General Motors on Thursday they won’t protest the automaker for not cutting ties with singer Kid Rock, the Associated Press is reporting.
The group has criticized Kid Rock’s past use of the Confederate battle flag at his concerts and said the singer should publicly condemn the flag now. According to the singer’s publicist, the country singer hasn’t appeared on stage with the flag since 2011, when the entertainer was honored by the NAACP.
“They’re protesting something he’s not even doing,” Kid Rock’s publicist Nick Stern told the Detroit Free Press.
GM said it would continue to sponsor the summer tour and that the only flag on stage would be the American flag.
Chevrolet has used Kid Rock extensively in advertisements and marketing.
Kid Rock has said in the past that the Confederate flag was a symbol of Southern rock and rebellion. Earlier this month, Kid Rock in an emailed statement to Fox News told protesters to “kiss my (ass).”
“We’re not going to let off of this,” the NAN’s Rev. Charles Williams told the Free Press.
The world would be a better place without the National Action Network.
* sorry, 28-Cars-Later. I couldn’t leave it unedited.
Without?
It’s improved by Kid Rock?
Kid Rock is not telling how to live your life.
Not true.
“You can look for answers but that ain’t fun
Now get in the pit and try to love someone”
So Kid Rock is like Stalin.
“According to the singer’s publicist, the country singer hasn’t appeared on stage with the flag since 2011, when the entertainer was honored by the NAACP.”
Country singer?
Which country? Whitetrashistan?
davefromcalgary –
country?
not really…
Singer?
Definitely NOT.
Protesting against GM for its association with an entertainer you’re mad at? This is over-reaching; they should stick with ignition switches.
Oh, and who is Kid Rock? I had to look him up – shows my age, I guess.
I think Kid Rock is David Spade’s alter ego.
Like Ziggy Stardust and Bowie or Chris Gaines and Garth Brooks.
I’m surprised he is still popular enough to be worthy of protest.
Can I just protest Kid Rock on general principles?
I would hope so.
In any case, someone should sue him for fraud. He’s in his mid-40s.
The charge should be fawlse advertisin’.
Why do we keep having articles that barely relate to anything automotive, but heavily tied to irrelevant fad controversies? Is TTAC that desperate for clicks? Just gonna keep beating a dead horse until there’s nothing?
Is this more or less automotive than Mrs. Hamp and her pain pills?
No different really.
@Hummer –
If this is click bait, you swallowed.
You’re right. Let’s have more posts on manual transmissions instead.
“more posts on manual transmissions”
Yes! A history of tech column would be very cool.
Could call it something like Forgotten Marvels.
I’m still waiting to hear whether the pictured truck identifies as its physical exhaust configuration.
That flew right over my head so I shot it.
Sorry, I’m from Indiana.
Drax the Destroyer: *Nothing* goes over my head…! My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.
TTAC is much more than technical reports and that’s the way I like it. The story is a perfect storm in a teacup, beats the real news.
Trash will always be trash . Kinda hard to protest against someone that does not understand .
Kid Rock says some of the dumbest things. He sucks. But not because of a flag.
So I completely understand and applaud GM’s decision not to boycot Kid Rock because of his support of that flag. It’s hardly a big thing. It’s not as if he said or insinuated that the majority of Mexicans who cross the border to the U.S. are rapists and thieves, like someone *else* we know. I don’t understand why people insist upon using that flag as an expression of Southern heritage, but—as a black person—I don’t think it’s racist, nor do I think that they intend for it to be.
GM’s response was level-headed and appropriate, IMO.
Kyree,
I’m currently in the States a the moment and watching the GOP Primaries.
I can’t believe how the media reports; “The portion is “Blacks=X%” the “Latino=Y%”, etc. We don’t have this in Australia, even though Ausralia is much more diverse ethnically and have a significantly larger portion of our population non Australian born, ie, immigrants.
While these fig is used and is constantly appearing on TV it will divide a nation. Am I the only one who sees this?
As for this group of musicians……this is not news worthy in my eyes, but possibly an attempt to generate debate, possibly the wrong debate for a car site.
Australia looks to be about 75% white — I’d hardly call that diverse.
From humanrights.gov.au:
“Until the 1970s, the ‘White Australia’ policy restricted immigration from non-European countries.Today’s immigration policies are not racially discriminatory. Anyone can apply for a visa to settle permanently in Australia regardless of their ethnic origin, race, religion or gender.
In 2003-04, the top 10 source countries for permanent settlers were: the United Kingdom (23,958); New Zealand (14,425); China (13,316); India (11,359); South Africa (7,578); Malaysia (5,101); Philippines (4,705); Sudan (4,604); Indonesia (4,393); and Singapore (3,114)”
Diverse all right. What about those people cooped up in Camps on Australian islands and not allowed in? No wonder the above page hasn’t been updated since 2003/4. Too damn embarassing.
Another BAFO Buffoonery.
In Australia, diversity means having Italian AND Greek restaurants in your neighborhood.
It’s worth typing “stolen generations” into a search engine. And “Rabbit-Proof Fence” is a film worth watching.
Australia also has compulsory voting. Pro and con.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23810381
I’ll get behind NAN for protsting kid rock and the “rebel flag” as soon as they protest every rap group that has ever used the n-word. Come on NAN, protest beats and apple.
This is probably the most publicity that Kid Rock has had in years.
Feels like this Confederate flag crap has been going on all summer long!
(Sorry, couldn’t resist! ;-) )