Last Updated on August 19, 2020
Goodyear Tire has declared All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter and MAGA to be “unacceptable”, while describing Black Lives Matter and the LGBT movement as “acceptable”, in an internal diversity training provided to employees.
WIBW reports that the popular tire manufacturer explained their “zero tolerance” policy towards clothing supporting conservative causes, listing All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, “MAGA Attire” and “Political Affiliated Slogans or Material” under the heading “unacceptable” in a slide shown during the diversity training.
In contrast, Black Lives Matter and the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride” movement, two causes typically associated with the left, were placed in a list titled “acceptable”.
The employee who photographed the slide and provided it to WIBW said that the presentation was shown at the Goodyear plant in Topeka, Kansas, but had been created by employees at the company’s corporate headquarters in Akron, Ohio.
“If someone wants to wear a BLM shirt in here, then cool. I’m not going to get offended about it. But at the same time, if someone’s not going to be able to wear something that is politically based, even in the farthest stretch of the imagination, that’s discriminatory,” the employee told WIBW under the condition he remained anonymous, out of fear for his employment. “If we’re talking about equality, then it needs to be equality. If not, it’s discrimination.”
Asked by 13 News about this internal policy, a Goodyear Tire representative clarified that the company distinguished between Black Lives Matter, which it saw as “racial justice” and an “equity issue”, and Blue Lives Matter, which was put in the category of “political campaigning”.
“Goodyear is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace where all of our associates can do their best in a spirit of teamwork,” Goodyear Tire spokeswoman Melissa Monaco stated.
“As part of this commitment, we do allow our associates to express their support on racial injustice and other equity issues but ask that they refrain from workplace expressions, verbal or otherwise, in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party as well as other similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of equity issues.”
President Trump has subsequently called on his supporters to boycott Goodyear Tire.
Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES – They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020
Given that pro-Trump rural and suburban voters are likely to consume more tires than liberals living in urban areas and on college campuses, Goodyear Tire’s decision may risk a large chunk of their customer base.
