Walmart Axes DEI Policies in Monumental Decision
Corporation giant Walmart has announced that it will be eliminating its DEI policies after massive criticism from conservative activists. The changes, which were confirmed by Walmart on Monday, include scaling back racial equity training programs for employees and reevaluating supplier diversity initiatives.
The company will also discontinue its participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index for LGBT workplace inclusion and abandon its $100 million racial equity center, which was set up after the death of George Floyd in 2020, according to the Daily Mail.
Walmart will also cease giving special treatment to suppliers that are mostly owned by women, minorities, members of the LGBT community or veterans.
Walmart, employing 1.6 million workers in the U.S., emphasized that its decisions stem from a desire to foster a sense of belonging for all associates, customers, and suppliers. The company stated, “We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging,” per CBS News.
The retail giant’s move comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling that ended affirmative action in college admissions. This decision has emboldened conservative groups to challenge corporate workplace initiatives that prioritize historically marginalized groups.
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has been at the forefront of campaigns against corporate DEI policies, claimed credit for Walmart’s decision. In an X post, Starbuck wrote that this was “the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America.”
Starbuck noted that he had been communicating with the company, stating that “no retail company wants a story about them from us ahead of Black Friday.”
Walmart is among several companies that have decided to terminate their DEI policies, influenced by Starbuck, who has consistently exposed businesses for their “woke” practices. He also issued a warning to other major retailers still holding onto their DEI policies.
“We’ve now changed policy at companies worth over $2 Trillion,” he wrote. “Companies like Amazon and Target should be very nervous that their top competitor dropped woke policies first. I think Target specifically will suffer serious sales problems as a result and Walmart will benefit.”
Once the news spread, conservatives across social media shared their excitement.
Billionaire Elon Musk wrote, “The tide has turned.”
“Answered prayer again. Because one man stood up and took the heat,” wrote former CIA Officer Kevin Shipp.
“The woke mind virus is dying,” one X user wrote.
“Walmart is cutting back its DEI programs & preventing sellers from listing some ‘LGBTQ-themed’ items on its website. I can’t wait for this woke sh*t to be over,” another conservative wrote.
As he celebrates the win, Starbuck credits X for his success, stating that the platform has allowed him to target companies like Walmart.
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