NEW YORK — A broad group of civil rights organizations on Thursday called on CEOs and board members of major companies to maintain their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have come under fire. online and in court cases.
A open letter A report signed by 19 organizations and addressed to leaders of Fortune 1000 companies finds that companies that abandon their DEI programs are shirking their fiduciary responsibilities to employees, consumers and shareholders.
Civil rights groups included the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion programs, policies and practices make good business sense and are broadly popular among the public, consumers and employees,” their statement said. “But a small, well-funded, far-right group of activists is trying to pressure companies to abandon their DEI programs.”
Companies such as fordLowes, John Deere, Molson Coors and Harley-Davidson recently announced they would roll back their diversity, equity and inclusion policies after facing pressure from conservative activists emboldened by recent court victories.
Many large companies have taken a close look at their diversity programs in the wake of a ruling by the Supreme Court last year that declared race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions unconstitutional. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed with similar arguments against employers. Critics of DEI programs say the initiatives benefit people of one race or sexual orientation while excluding others.
The civil rights groups, which also include UnidosUS, the Urban League, Advocates for Trans Equality, the National Women’s Law Center and the American Association of People with Disabilities, argued in their letter that divesting from DEI would alienate a large number of consumers.