NEW YORK AP —John Deere says it will no longer sponsor “social or cultural awareness” events, becoming the latest major US company to distance itself from diversity and inclusion measures after being targeted by conservative backlash.
The move from the company known on Wall Street as Deere & Co. arrives just weeks after rural retailer Tractor Supply ended an array of its corporate diversity and climate efforts.
Both announcements came after backlash piled up online from conservative activists opposed to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, sponsorship of LGBTQ+ Pride events and climate advocacy.
“If it’s so polarizing that people just abandon it, then we all lost.”Legal attacks against companies’ diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have also drawn more attention following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling to end affirmative action in college admissions.
That doesn’t mean companies will stop their DEI efforts entirely, she added, but they may have to change language or find new workarounds.
Persons:
John Deere, Robby Starbuck, Starbuck, John Deere’s, it’s, ”, Eric Bloem, John Boyd , Jr, John C, Deere, Bud Light, aren’t, SHRM, Johnny C, Taylor, Jr, Jen Stark, Donald Trump, Stark
Organizations:
Deere, Co, Tractor Supply, Conservative, Human Rights, Associated Press, Supply, Human, ”, Black Farmers Association, Deere &, Labor Department, Target, Society for Human Resource Management, LinkedIn, AP, Center for Business, Social, Heritage, Republican
Locations:
The Moline , Illinois, Brentwood , Tennessee, BSR, U.S