June 23, 2016
“Walmart cannot afford to stay silent when it comes to Donald Trump,” said Jess Levin, communications director at MCAW. “Throughout his presidential campaign, he has managed to offend men and women of all races and religions and across the political spectrum with his racist, misogynistic, anti-veteran and Islamophobic statements. These are Walmart customers and Walmart employees. Walmart needs to send a message that it will not support bigotry, and join the growing list of companies who are refusing to sponsor this year’s Republican National Convention.”
In addition to the letter to Walmart, MCAW is launching an online petition where supporters can sign on to the letter. It has been 28 days since Donald Trump secured the delegates necessary to clinch the Republican nomination. MCAW will continue tracking how many days it takes for Walmart to break its silence.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Doug McMillon
President and CEO of Walmart
702 S.W. 8th St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
Dear Mr. McMillon,
Recently, major corporations, including Apple, UPS, Wells Fargo and Walgreens, have taken a public stand against the racist, misogynistic, anti-veteran, and Islamophobic statements of the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump. These companies have made it clear that they will not support his campaign by contributing to the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Yet Walmart has remained silent. In light of Mr. Trump’s statements, silence is no longer an option.
You have not condemned Mr. Trump’s offensive and anti-American statements, nor has your company withdrawn your financial support for the Republican Convention.
Based on current public records, Walmart has contributed over $15,000 to the 2016 Republican National Convention. However it is not clear whether Walmart has, directly or indirectly, contributed even more to support Mr. Trump’s candidacy, the convention, or his political agenda. We know that Walmart has long supported past Republican nominees and conventions, but this year is different. Donald Trump is different. His values and offensive statements are beyond the pale.
As you must know, Mr. Trump has implied that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers and rapists. He has attacked an American-born federal judge for his Hispanic heritage. His litany of sexist remarks against women are so frequent that they are not even worthy of repeating. He has not only demonized Muslim-Americans, he has called for a ban of all Muslim immigrants from the United States. He has insulted veterans, like Senator John McCain, for their service and sacrifice. He has attacked millions of men and women, many of them who shop at Walmart, with a viciousness that is beneath the great office he seeks.
As America’s largest employer, one of the largest companies in the country, and a historic supporter of Republicans, you must speak out against the values Donald Trump stands for. You cannot remain silent any longer.
If you do choose to remain silent, we must ask: Are Mr. Trump’s values the same as Walmart’s values?
For the sake of a better America, we urge you to withdraw your support for the 2016 Republican Convention. The American people are watching and waiting for you to do what is right.
Sincerely,
Making Change at Walmart
The Black Institute
United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
ColorOfChange.org
_____________
Making Change at Walmart is a campaign challenging Walmart to help rebuild our economy and strengthen working families. Anchored by the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW), we are a coalition of Walmart associates, union members, small business owners, religious leaders, community organizations, women’s advocacy groups, multi-ethnic coalitions, elected officials and ordinary citizens who believe that changing Walmart is vital for the future of our country
MAKING CHANGE AT WALMART DEMANDS WALMART TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
“In light of Donald Trump’s racist, misogynistic, anti-veteran, and Islamophobic statements, silence is no longer an option.”
Washington, DC — Making Change at Walmart (MCAW) along with The Black Institute, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, and ColorOfChange.org, sent a letter today to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon that calls on the company to withdraw its sponsorship of the 2016 Republican National Convention due to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s history of racist, misogynistic, anti-veteran, and Islamophobic remarks.“Walmart cannot afford to stay silent when it comes to Donald Trump,” said Jess Levin, communications director at MCAW. “Throughout his presidential campaign, he has managed to offend men and women of all races and religions and across the political spectrum with his racist, misogynistic, anti-veteran and Islamophobic statements. These are Walmart customers and Walmart employees. Walmart needs to send a message that it will not support bigotry, and join the growing list of companies who are refusing to sponsor this year’s Republican National Convention.”
In addition to the letter to Walmart, MCAW is launching an online petition where supporters can sign on to the letter. It has been 28 days since Donald Trump secured the delegates necessary to clinch the Republican nomination. MCAW will continue tracking how many days it takes for Walmart to break its silence.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Doug McMillon
President and CEO of Walmart
702 S.W. 8th St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
Dear Mr. McMillon,
Recently, major corporations, including Apple, UPS, Wells Fargo and Walgreens, have taken a public stand against the racist, misogynistic, anti-veteran, and Islamophobic statements of the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump. These companies have made it clear that they will not support his campaign by contributing to the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Yet Walmart has remained silent. In light of Mr. Trump’s statements, silence is no longer an option.
You have not condemned Mr. Trump’s offensive and anti-American statements, nor has your company withdrawn your financial support for the Republican Convention.
Based on current public records, Walmart has contributed over $15,000 to the 2016 Republican National Convention. However it is not clear whether Walmart has, directly or indirectly, contributed even more to support Mr. Trump’s candidacy, the convention, or his political agenda. We know that Walmart has long supported past Republican nominees and conventions, but this year is different. Donald Trump is different. His values and offensive statements are beyond the pale.
As you must know, Mr. Trump has implied that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers and rapists. He has attacked an American-born federal judge for his Hispanic heritage. His litany of sexist remarks against women are so frequent that they are not even worthy of repeating. He has not only demonized Muslim-Americans, he has called for a ban of all Muslim immigrants from the United States. He has insulted veterans, like Senator John McCain, for their service and sacrifice. He has attacked millions of men and women, many of them who shop at Walmart, with a viciousness that is beneath the great office he seeks.
As America’s largest employer, one of the largest companies in the country, and a historic supporter of Republicans, you must speak out against the values Donald Trump stands for. You cannot remain silent any longer.
If you do choose to remain silent, we must ask: Are Mr. Trump’s values the same as Walmart’s values?
For the sake of a better America, we urge you to withdraw your support for the 2016 Republican Convention. The American people are watching and waiting for you to do what is right.
Sincerely,
Making Change at Walmart
The Black Institute
United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
ColorOfChange.org
_____________
Making Change at Walmart is a campaign challenging Walmart to help rebuild our economy and strengthen working families. Anchored by the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW), we are a coalition of Walmart associates, union members, small business owners, religious leaders, community organizations, women’s advocacy groups, multi-ethnic coalitions, elected officials and ordinary citizens who believe that changing Walmart is vital for the future of our country
Copyright © 2016 Eric M.
Appleman/Democracy in
Action.
All rights reserved.