by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
As American institutions and corporations rush to bend a knee to the racism and other exclusionary practices of the Trump administration by quickly eliminating programs designed to give every individual a shot at the American dream, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and even skin color, Costco, a major American retailer, has thrown a flag on the play and refused to go along with the reach back into the bad old days of overt bigotry and homophobia. The board of directors of Costco has said "not so fast" to the push to eliminate DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs and stated its resolve to continuing offering employment and advancement opportunities to everyone, regardless of their race, creed, religion, or who they happen to love.
Donald John Trump, a man who is likely to have never set foot in a Costco Warehouse or a Sam's Club - and certainly never a Walmart - is sure to be displeased with Costco's bold action, nonetheless.
An "activist" shareholder had proposed a measure for the most recent board of directors meeting whereby the company would rescind its current DEI measures out of concern that not to do so would invite discrimination lawsuits from employees who are white, Asian, male, or straight. The board encouraged the company's shareholders to vote the measure down, and they did so by a 98% percent majority vote.
Activist shareholders pushing the same proposal have found success with many other American corporations - Walmart, Amazon, and Meta being three major examples - but a few others have stood firm in their support of DEI initiatives like Costco did. Three others who continue to support human dignity and rights are Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, and Apple, among others.
Many DEI initiatives are rooted in the Civil Rights struggles of the 1950's and 1960's and now have an historic foothold in American society and the national economy, yet the Trump administration seems hellbent on pulling those advances out by their roots. The reinstitution of social ills is a bad and ugly business.
Congratulations to the brave corporations and their shareholders who are standing tall in their resolve to give all Americans an opportunity to achieve the American dream! You have this tired old typist's support and admiration!
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