This blog originally appeared at CBS NEWS.
John Deere joins a growing list of major American companies retracting diversity policies amidst conservative criticism.
The manufacturer of John Deere tractors and other agricultural machinery announced on Tuesday that it would cease participation in “social or cultural awareness” events. Additionally, the company will review its mandatory training materials to ensure they do not include “socially motivated messages,” according to a statement posted on social media by the Moline, Illinois-based company.
This decision follows a similar move by retailer Tractor Supply, which recently ended its corporate diversity initiatives. These actions highlight the increasing pressure on companies to abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The announcements come amid a conservative-led online campaign, marking another episode in the ongoing debate over the effectiveness and fairness of policies designed to promote organizational diversity and inclusivity.
For decades, many U.S. corporations, colleges, and other organizations have adhered to DEI principles. These ideas gained significant traction four years ago following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. In response to his death, numerous companies committed to strengthening their DEI efforts to make their workforces more racially and culturally representative.
The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to end affirmative action in college admissions has further galvanized the efforts of conservative and anti-DEI activists to push for the elimination of such policies in the workplace.
“War on wokeness”
Leading the charge against both John Deere and Tractor Supply on the platform X, conservative political commentator and filmmaker Robby Starbuck hailed John Deere’s announcement as “another huge win in our war on wokeness.” However, he deemed the company’s measures insufficient and urged them to fully eliminate their DEI policies.
Last month, Brentwood, Tennessee-based Tractor Supply went a step further by abolishing all of its DEI roles and goals. The company also vowed to stop submitting data to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest advocacy group for LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Starbuck, a 35-year-old Cuban American, told The Associated Press, “It’s not lost on me my kids would benefit from this stuff,” but he opposes hiring decisions based on race, DEI initiatives, employee resource groups that focus on non-professional activities, and any policies that, in his view, incorporate social issues and politics into company culture.
“People should go to work without feeling compelled to conform to specific behaviors to be acceptable to their employer,” Starbuck said.
Eric Bloem, vice president of programs and corporate advocacy at the Human Rights Campaign, described John Deere’s decision as “disappointing,” calling it “a direct result of a coordinated attack by far-right extremists on American business.”
National Black Farmers Association President John Boyd, Jr., called for the resignation of Deere CEO John May and a boycott of the company on Wednesday. He stated that John Deere “continues to move in the wrong direction” regarding DEI and has “failed to show its support” for Black farmers since NBFA’s founding.
The organization also pointed out that John Deere’s announcement came a month after the company agreed to pay $1.1 million in back wages and interest to 277 Black and Hispanic job applicants following the Labor Department’s allegations of hiring discrimination.
Last month, Target announced it was reducing the number of stores carrying Pride Month-related merchandise after the retail chain faced “confrontational behavior” that had threatened workers’ safety the previous year.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
fleeredstates.blog 
THIS IS SO WRONG!!!!😡
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