KENNER, La. — The mayor of a New Orleans suburb is banning the city’s parks and recreation department from purchasing Nike products. The memo by Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn to the parks and recreation director says Nike products cannot be purchased for use at the city’s recreation facilities. It also requires the director to approve all athletic purchases by booster clubs using their facilities. The memo created a firestorm when it circulated over the weekend. The memo doesn’t reference Nike’s ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was seeking to draw attention to racial injustice when he started kneeling during the national anthem. In a statement Monday, Zahn didn’t mention Kaepernick but said Nike was promoting a “political message” to sell shoes. He said he was protecting “taxpayer dollars from being used in a political campaign.”<doc-sep>Vice President Mike Pence, front center, stands during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 25: Members of the Dallas Cowboys link arms and kneel during the National Anthem before the start of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 25, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Trump: Maybe players who kneel shouldn't be in US MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the Philadelphia Eagles raises his fist during the national anthem as Chris Long #56 puts his arm around him prior to the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field on August 9, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Eagles 31-14. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images (CNN) — A day after Nike announced Colin Kaepernick as the face of the brand’s 30th anniversary ad campaign, a city mayor in Louisiana issued a memo banning the purchase and use of any Nike products at the city’s booster clubs and recreation departments. Ben Zahn, the mayor of Kenner, Louisiana, addressed the September 5 memorandum to Chad Pitfield, the director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “Under no circumstances will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility,” the memo read. Signed by Zahn, the memo also said the move was effective immediately, and that any athletic purchases made by any booster club operating at any Kenner Recreation Facility must be approved by Pitfield or his designee. CNN reached out to Pitfield but he refused to comment. The memo was meant to be internal Although the memo was not meant to be made public, it was widely shared on social media, and landed in the hands of some of the Kenner City Council members, who didn’t know of its existence until this weekend. “I was not made aware of this decision beforehand and it is in direct contradiction of what I stand for and what the city of Kenner should stand for,” Councilman Gregory Carroll said on Facebook. “I am 100% AGAINST this decision. I will meet with the mayor and other council members in an effort to rescind this directive. I will keep the citizens of Kenner, and the Greater New Orleans area informed as we move forward,” Carroll added. CNN reached out to Carroll for further comment and is waiting to hear back. Zhan released a statement on Monday, saying the ban was to protect the city’s taxpayers from promoting the brand’s “political agenda.” “My internal memo draws the line on letting companies profit from taxpayers by espousing political beliefs. My decision disallowing Nike from profiting from our taxpayers while they are using their powerful voice as a political tool is my message,” Zhan said. “This government will not let taxpayer dollars be used to promote a company’s or individual’s political position, platform or principle. That’s my position as a matter of fairness to all.” The statement also clarifies that people will be allowed to wear their Nike apparel. “My decision is only to protect taxpayer dollars from being used in a political campaign. Some have asked if people will be allowed to wear Nike apparel on city playgrounds. The answer to that is … of course,” said Zhan. The mayor spoke out against players kneeling From some burning their Nike sports gear to a college removing all Nike athletic uniforms from its campus, the ban is the latest protest against Nike’s support for Kaepernick, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers football team. Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the National Anthem before several 2016 NFL preseason games sparked controversy around the nation, and days before Zahn issued the memorandum, he took the stage during the city’s Freedom Fest to criticize NFL players who knelt. “With all the things going on throughout this country right now, with people not standing, I’m gonna ask you all to stand for what’s about to happen,” Zahn said before introducing a singer. “She’s gonna come out and do our National Anthem, because this is not the NFL football players right? This is the city of Kenner, and in the city of Kenner we all stand. We’re gonna be proud of that,” Zhan said on a video shared on Facebook. CNN reached out to the mayor’s office in regards to the video but received no comment.<doc-sep>The mayor of Kenner is facing backlash after a memo, with his apparent signature, banning Nike products at all city recreational facilities surfaced on social media.The memo is dated Sept. 5, 2018 and was sent to the director of Kenner's Parks and Recreation Department. It comes amid the recent debate over Nike teaming up with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a new ad campaign.The first ad that debuted last week, which also features LeBron James and Serena Williams, among others, has drawn both praise and criticism because of Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem in the 2016 season.Kaepernick is now a free agent who hasn’t been signed to a team since that season.Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn's memo was released the same day the new Nike ad debuted.The memo instructs the Parks and Recreation Department to review all purchases for apparel, shoes and athletic equipment made by booster clubs that operate at any Kenner recreational facility. "Under no circumstances will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility," said Zahn in the memo.News of the memo quickly spread around social media, including national social media accounts.WDSU reached out to Zahn's office and the city to determine the validity of the memo and if the mayor wanted to issue a statement.A spokesperson for Zahn said the mayor has no comment right now.Stay with WDSU.com for updates on this story.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up! The mayor of Kenner is facing backlash after a memo, with his apparent signature, banning Nike products at all city recreational facilities surfaced on social media. The memo is dated Sept. 5, 2018 and was sent to the director of Kenner's Parks and Recreation Department. It comes amid the recent debate over Nike teaming up with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a new ad campaign. Advertisement This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. The first ad that debuted last week, which also features LeBron James and Serena Williams, among others, has drawn both praise and criticism because of Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem in the 2016 season. Kaepernick is now a free agent who hasn’t been signed to a team since that season. Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn's memo was released the same day the new Nike ad debuted. The memo instructs the Parks and Recreation Department to review all purchases for apparel, shoes and athletic equipment made by booster clubs that operate at any Kenner recreational facility. "Under no circumstances will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility," said Zahn in the memo. This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. News of the memo quickly spread around social media, including national social media accounts. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. WDSU reached out to Zahn's office and the city to determine the validity of the memo and if the mayor wanted to issue a statement. A spokesperson for Zahn said the mayor has no comment right now. Stay with WDSU.com for updates on this story. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. 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The memo, first posted on Facebook, caused a social media firestorm and was shared thousands of times before it drew the rebuke of at least one Kenner councilman. KENNER, La. – The boycott of Nike products appeared to reach Kenner this week as Mayor Ben Zahn ordered that playground booster clubs not wear or buy any Nike products, which are now pitched by controversial former quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The memo, first posted on Facebook, caused a social media firestorm and was shared thousands of times before it drew the rebuke of at least one Kenner councilman. Zahn declined to comment Sunday, according to Kenner spokesman Bob Ross. Chad Pitfield, the city’s director of Parks and Recreation Department, referred questions to Ross. While Zahn refused to comment Sunday on the memo, a video of him last week at Kenner's Freedom Fest showed him decry those who choose to not stand for the national anthem. "I'm going to ask y'all to stand for what's about to happen. ... Because this is not the NFL football players, right?" he said before the anthem was sung, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "This is the city of Kenner. In the city of Kenner we all stand. We're going to be proud of that" National Anthem at Freedom Fest 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Jenna Hunts... Posted by Duane Hunts on Sunday, September 2, 2018 Owen Rey, the booster club president for Susan Park Playground, provided a copy of Zahn's memo, dated Sept. 5, to WWL-TV. “Effective immediately, all purchases made by any booster club operating at any Kenner Recreation Facility for wearing apparel, shoes, athletic equipment, and/or any athletic product must be approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation, or his designee. Under no circumstances will any Nike product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility,” the memo reads. Booster club president upset by memo After the memo had been shared on social media, Councilman Gregory Carroll took to Facebook, saying he had no knowledge that the memo was being sent out. “Last night a disturbing memorandum was circulated that the City of Kenner Mayor E. Ben Zahn wrote to the Kenner Recreation Director, directing him, regarding Booster Club Purchases, banning Nike products, usage or delivery of all Kenner Recreational Facilities,” Carroll wrote. “I was not made aware of this decision beforehand and it is in direct contradiction of what I stand for and what the City of Kenner should stand for. I am 100% AGAINST this decision. I will meet with the Mayor and other Council members in an effort to rescind this directive. I will keep the citizens of Kenner, and the Greater New Orleans area informed as we move forward.” Rey says if the boosters want something that's going to benefit the kids of the playground, logos shouldn't matter. "It shouldn't matter what brand, as long as it helps the kids and what we're trying to accomplish at the park," Kaepernick, a free agent, was the first player to kneel during the national anthem before an NFL game as a peaceful protest against social injustice and police brutality. He hasn't been with an NFL team since 2016.