I don’t know what the observances of these events were in the past but I can’t for the life of me see what the harm was in doing it. It just seems like benign celebrations of our pluralistic society, like St Patrick’s day parades or Mardi Gras. Why is this a problem? But I guess the white guys are upset so they have to stop doing it.
Many companies in the private sector are ending their DEI programs as well which I have to assume is being done just to make their MAGA customers happy. And I suppose they’re probably happy to abandon all their anti-discrimination policies as well.
Republican attorneys general from 19 states want Costco Wholesale to ditch its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, making the call days after the retailer successfully defended its DEI policies as good for business to shareholders.
In a letter on Monday to Costco CEO Ron Vachris, the AGs accuse the retailer of “clinging to DEI policies that courts and businesses have rejected as illegal,” and called on it to account for the legal risks of its actions.
Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, the Republican officials instructed Costco to let them know within 30 days whether it would get rid of its DEI policies or explain why not.
Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The GOP letter came after Costco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that the wholesale club operator evaluate any risks associated to its DEI practices. The shareholder behind the resolution, the National Center for Public Policy Research, argued that DEI “may sound benign,” but in fact is “weaponized language concealing a radical Marxist agenda.”
Costco’s board, however, urged against the conservative think tank’s motion ahead of its annual meeting.
“Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the ‘treasure hunt’ that our customers value,” the retailer stated. Costco’s “commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary. The report requested by this proposal would not provide meaningful additional information,” it added.
A day after Costco held its ground on its DEI policies, discount store chain Target joined Walmart and other corporations in scaling back on diversity initiatives under attack from conservative activists emboldened by high court decisions and President Trump, who recently banned DEI programs across the federal government.
I don’t know why they think this is their business but apparently the idea is that these programs are illegal because of the Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action decision. Or maybe it’s just because Dear Leader has proclaimed it. But it just isn’t true. (And it goes without saying that diversity has absolutely nothing to do with Marxism and it’s insanely depressing to see state Attorneys General argue that it is.)
There has been no decision on whether private business can allow their companies to celebrate racial or ethnic diversity. And considering that we’re allegedly still a free country I can’t believe that anyone would think it’s the government’s job to tell them they can’t do it. The mind reels.