Another MAJOR Brand Ditches DEI Initiatives After Intense Backlash

Harley-Davidson announced Monday the company had ditched its ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ (DEI) initiatives.

“We see it as every leader’s role to ensure we have an employee base that reflects our customers and the geographies in which we operate. It is critical to our business that we hire and retain the best talent and that all employees feel welcome. That said, we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals,” the statement read.

“We remain committed to listening to all members of our community as we continue on our journey together as one Harley-Davidson. United We Ride,” Harley-Davidson stated.

We remain committed to listening to all members of our community as we continue on our journey together as one Harley-Davidson. United We Ride. pic.twitter.com/0feGYhTUMh

— Harley-Davidson (@harleydavidson) August 19, 2024

Robby Starbuck commented:

Another win for our movement. I couldn’t do this without all of you. @harleydavidson just issued this statement where they promise:

• No more DEI functions

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• No more supplier diversity spend goals

• They’ll no longer participate in @HRC scoring

• Sponsorship activities are changing and will focus exclusively on motorcycling, first responders, active military and veterans

• No more woke trainings with socially motivated messaging inside of them

Harley-Davidson corporate can be sad all they want but our movement gets results.

Another win for our movement. I couldn’t do this without all of you. @harleydavidson just issued this statement where they promise:

• No more DEI functions

• No more supplier diversity spend goals

• They’ll no longer participate in @HRC scoring

• Sponsorship activities… pic.twitter.com/HMICsQAbz4

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 19, 2024

“This is amazing. Just read the comments on CNN’s article about Harley-Davidson dropping woke policies and 90% of the comments oppose DEI. The tide is turning against wokeness,” Starbuck said.

This is amazing. Just read the comments on CNN’s article about Harley-Davidson dropping woke policies and 90% of the comments oppose DEI. The tide is turning against wokeness. pic.twitter.com/ASWOabvCll

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 20, 2024

From CNN:

Tractor Supply Co. John Deere. Now Harley-Davidson.

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Harley-Davidson said Monday that it’s ending diversity and other progressive initiatives at the company. Harley-Davidson is the latest major American brand to backtrack from DEI policies it had supported in recent years.

Harley-Davidson faced pressure online from Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist who has successfully taken on DEI policies at several American companies.

“We are saddened by the negativity on social media over the last few weeks, designed to divide the Harley-Davidson community,” the company wrote in a statement posted on X.

The company added that “we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals.”

But the company said it would review all sponsorships and outside organizations the company affiliates with, and the company will establish a central clearinghouse for approvals of those relationships. It also suggested it would drop some sponsorships, including LGBTQ+ Pride festivals, saying the brand going forward would focus exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling. Harley-Davidson, based in Milwaukee, had previously been a longtime corporate member of the Wisconsin LBGT Chamber of Commerce.

The company also said it would end its relationship with the Human Rights Campaign, a leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

“My full breakdown of @harleydavidson’s new response to our boycott where they announce an end to woke trainings, no more participating in HRC’s far left social credit CEI scoring, a return to sane donations and no more DEI. It’s time for a victory lap and what comes next,” Starbuck said.

WATCH:

My full breakdown of @harleydavidson’s new response to our boycott where they announce an end to woke trainings, no more participating in HRC’s far left social credit CEI scoring, a return to sane donations and no more DEI. It’s time for a victory lap and what comes next. pic.twitter.com/dVA5KoYfjo

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 19, 2024

Per Fox News:

Harley-Davidson had faced grumblings for years from longtime customers, including hard-core bikers, who claimed that the Milwaukee-based company “used” them to build its “bad–s” brand, then abandoned them as the motorcycle’s popularity expanded to upscale riders.

The dissatisfaction exploded in July when social-media influencer Robby Starbuck outed several controversial internal woke policies at Harley.

“@harleydavidson has been one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke,” Robby Starbuck shared with his more than 528,000 followers on X.

Watch Starbuck’s Harley-Davidson exposé below:

It’s time to expose Harley Davidson.@harleydavidson has been one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke.

Here’s some of what we found:

• Openly supports “the equality act” which would allow men into girl’s… pic.twitter.com/15kPUy8WVY

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 23, 2024

It’s time to expose Harley Davidson.

@harleydavidson has been one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke.

Here’s some of what we found:

• Openly supports “the equality act” which would allow men into girl’s bathrooms, sports and locker-rooms.

• HD funded an all ages pride event that featured a “rage room” next to drag queen story time.

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• 1,800 employees had to do virtual training on how to become LGBTQ+ allies.

• Founding Member of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce — This chamber opposed a law that would’ve banned sex changes for kids in Wisconsin on behalf of the businesses they represent, including HD.

• Sponsored LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur Bootcamp.

• The woke CEO Jochen Zeitz signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge.

• Made February and March “Months of Inclusion” because apparently Pride Month isn’t enough.

• Multiple woke United Way trainings.

• Donated millions to United Way who made the “United For Equity” program where they promote Ibram Kendi, the woke children’s book “Anti-Racist Baby”, “Awake to Woke to Work”, a podcast on the concept of “Whiteness”, woke activist Robin DiAngelo, bigotry against Christians who supposedly have “Christian Privilege” and more.

• Sent some White Male employees to a White Male ONLY woke diversity training program.

• HD is openly working to have less White suppliers, dealers and employees.

• HD partners with the yearly “Pride Ride”.

• HD supports the Pennsylvania Youth Congress who helped create Gender Neutral licenses in Pittsburgh.

• Partnered with the far left HRC group to support LGBTQ+ causes.

• Hosted LGBTQ+ events at the corporate office.

• HD celebrated their legal dept taking a woke 21 day racial equity and literacy challenge which included speeches like “Black Panthers, White Lies”, a BLM speech and Ta-Nehisi Coates “Case for Reparations”.

• LGBTQ+ & race based identity ERG groups at HD.

• A total commitment to DEI policies.

• 90/100 CEI score from the HRC.

To put it mildly, Harley Davidson seems to have forgotten who their core customers are.

I don’t think the values at corporate reflect the values of nearly any Harley Davidson bikers. Do Harley riders want the money they spend at Harley to be used later by corporate to push an ideology that’s diametrically opposed to their own values?

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.