However, various sources – from industry press and academic articles to Fulgent Sun’s own corporate materials – point to Nike being an important customer over the past decade.
TBIJ pulled export records that showed multiple shipments from the Fujian factory to Nike in the US after 2015, including as recently as November 2022. The shipments were all delivered via one of the brand’s main logistics partners in the region.
After seeing some of TBIJ’s evidence, Nike said its records “contradicted [TBIJ’s] claims”, and maintained it hadn’t purchased anything from the implicated factory since 2015. It added that it “remains committed to ethical and responsible manufacturing”.
Fulgent Sun didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Freedom – who wore a pair of shoes emblazoned with “Nike Hypocrite”, “Made with slave labor” and “No more excuses” in one of his final NBA games – claims it was criticism of both China and Nike that cost him his career.
He’s saddened by what he calls selective activism from Nike, which has been a proud supporter of US-focused social justice movements like Black Lives Matter. “You stand up for things unless it hits your pocket, hurts you financially,” he said.
“Stand up for what’s right,” he added. Speaking to the NBA players sponsored by brands linked to human rights violations, he said: “Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine it was your sister or daughter. Would you still be silent?”