In 1998, Keady was conducting research about Nike's business practices at St. John's University, the school signed a $3.5 million deal with Nike, forcing all athletes and coaches to endorse Nike. Keady publicly refused to support Nike and was forced to resign his position as soccer coach.[1]
After resigning, Keady continued to research the conditions in Nike's Sweatshops. He traveled to Indonesia and for a month lived among the Nike factory workers, surviving on the $1.25 per day wage the workers earn.[2] Keady's efforts were recognized on many media outlets, including CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, HBO Sports, ESPN, the ABC, the BBC, NPR, WBAI, as well as in the NY Times, Newsday, Sports Illustrated, the Daily News, Daily Kos and many other local radio programs and print outlets. He offers an educational workshops called "Beyond the Swoosh" where he shares his experiences living with Nike's factory workers and his decade long effort to end sweatshop abuses.[3]
After a decade of activism, Indonesian Nike supplier PT Nikomas Gemiland repaid 4437 production workers for 600,000 hours of forced unpaid labor.[4]
In September 2018, Nike and Keady were in the news again over a controversial ad campaign with Colin Kaepernick, famed football player and social justice protester. Keady was asked to voice his views regarding Nike's stance on social justice in the United States while the company has a history of social justice controversies globally.
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Hurricane Sandy
In 2012, Keady volunteered to lead recovery efforts in his hometown of Belmar, NJ, after Hurricane Sandy. Two years later, Governor Chris Christie visited the town to publicize state recovery efforts. Keady interrupted the press conference to voice his complaints about the pace of recovery. Christie told him to “sit down and shut up.”[6]
The encounter gained national media attention.[7] Keady appeared on several news networks explaining of the $1.1 billion in federal funding allocated to the program, state data showed roughly $530 million has been awarded and more than $222 million has been disbursed.[8]
After this experience, Mr. Keady ran for Congress in the 4th District against Republican incumbent Chris Smith.[9]
Syrian Refugee Crisis
In 2015, Keady spent 10 days in Lesbos, Greece to help refugees from war-torn Middle Eastern countries find new lives in the west. Keady said he went to Greece when he saw rising anti-Muslim and anti-refugee sentiment in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks. "It’s not just a political issue; these are people," said Keady. "These are people that just want a better life. They left areas that have been ravaged by war."[10]
Hurricane Maria
In 2017, after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Keady made multiple humanitarian trips to provide aid to the people of the island.[11]
Legislative career
Asbury Park City Council
In 2005, Keady served on the Asbury Park City Council. He ran with two other city residents but he was the only one on his team to be elected. While on council, Keady served as co-chair of the council's subcommittee on affordable housing; the Asbury Works advisory board; the Springwood Avenue redevelopment advisory committee; the subcommittee on homelessness; and the parking commission.[12] Keady resigned six months before his four-year term was up, due to family reasons.[13]
In November 2019, Keady announced a third run for Congress for the same seat.[20] On January 17, 2020, he sent an email to supporters announcing his withdrawal from the Primary after being asked to drop out by multiple Democratic Party organizations and leaders.[21]
