Teen sent home from work for wearing Kaepernick jersey

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to playing the Los Angeles Rams in their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 12, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to playing the Los Angeles Rams in their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 12, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

A Springfield, Ohio, Kroger employee was sent home for wearing a controversial player’s jersey to work on Sept. 11.

Elijah Scott, 16, wore a San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick jersey to work at the store last Sunday, but was later sent home after a customer complained about the jersey. Kaepernick is the backup quarterback who has sparked controversy recently by kneeling during the Star-Spangled Banner in protest of racial discrimination across the country.

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Elijah later posted a Snapchat video saying he was discriminated against by his employer.

A flier at the store says every Sunday is "NFL Gear" day, but it must be professional and work appropriate, according to his Snapchat post. Elijah later posted a Snapchat image of the photo, saying "I broke no rules."

He went home, changed into his Kroger shirt and went back to work, his father Robert Scott said.

Elijah’s parents were saddened to hear their son was asked to change, Scott said.

"I was upset but I wasn’t shocked," he said. "My wife on the other hand … she was really furious."

"It’s something that you get used to after so many years," Scott said.

Kroger officials said Friday they have apologized to Elijah and his family and said he will be allowed to wear the jersey in the future.

"We are proud and privileged to employ a workforce and to serve a customer base as diverse as America," said Patty Leesemann, a Kroger spokeswoman in a statement. "We are aware of this situation and have apologized to Elijah and his mother. Diversity, inclusion and respect are among our company’s core values and ones we strive to live up to every day."

Leesemann confirmed an assistant manager at the store asked Scott to change clothes after a customer complained about the jersey. She said Elijah's family has accepted the apology.

"The assistant store manager made a mistake and we’ve apologized and we’ve invited Elijah to wear his jersey and he can wear it on Sunday," she said.

The family went to the NAACP Springfield Unit to help solve the issue with the store.

The teen’s mother called the NAACP office on Tuesday because they said they family was getting nowhere talking to store management, President Denise Williams said.

"I was quite disturbed about it," Williams said.

Williams called the local store management.

"Never been in trouble, he’s not on the streets … and because he wore a jersey with that guy’s name on it, how dare you do that to him," Williams said.

Local store management admitted to the NAACP they didn’t handle the situation appropriately, Williams said.

The family was glad to get an apology, Robert Scott said, but upset it took the NAACP getting involved to get one.

"I wish they would have initiated it themselves," Robert Scott said.

But the family hasn’t heard of any disciplinary action toward the manager who sent Elijah home, Robert Scott said.

"Somebody should be held accountable for what happened," he said.

Less than 24 hours after the NAACP stepped in, Williams received a call Wednesday from corporate Kroger headquarters in Cincinnati with an apology.

"I was so upset because this young man is so committed and devoted to his job and … they’re going to send him home because somebody didn’t like the guy his jersey represented — that’s just crazy to me!" she said.

The store should have thanked the customer for their opinion, she said, but it should not have responded by asking the teen to go home.