Latest news with #antiDEI
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Stockholm officials refused to comply with US Embassy's request regarding Trump's anti-DEI policies
Claim: The U.S. Embassy in Sweden sent a letter to Stockholm's city planning department stating that U.S. State Department contractors must comply with the Trump administration's anti-diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Rating: In early May 2025, claims shared across the internet alleged the United States Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden sent an official letter to Stockholm's city planning department demanding compliance with U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders championing "anti-discrimination laws." The letter allegedly stated that all contractors for the U.S. State Department must adhere to the administration's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The claim spread widely on social media, with posts on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), X (archived) and Reddit. The popularity of the claim led to a variety of Snopes readers sending emails asking if there was any truth behind the rumor. Stockholm is latest city to refuse 'bizarre' US request to abandon diversitybyu/pilldickle2048 ineurope Indeed, claims that the U.S. Embassy in Sweden's capital city sent Stockholm's city planning department a letter stating contractors must comply with the Trump administration's anti-DEI policies are true. Neither the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Sweden has responded to Snopes' requests for comment, but this article will be updated if we receive a response. A press officer for the city of Stockholm provided Snopes with a copy of the document in question along with a screenshot of the email in which the embassy delivered it to the city. (City of Stockholm) The email read: CERTIFICATION REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW — 19SW8025P0594 Dear Stadsbyggnadskontoret [City Planning Office], Due to updated U.S. acquisition policies under Executive Order 14173, we kindly ask you to review and sign the attached certification form. This certification is required for all U.S. Government acquisitions, including purchase orders and all contracts for goods or services. Please return the signed form within 10 working days. Thank you for your cooperation. Best regards, U.S. Embassy Stockholm The letter itself was addressed from the Embassy of the United States of America in Stockholm, Sweden, and it opened by repeating the email's subject line. It then read, "All Department of State contractors must certify that they do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable anti-discrimination laws and agree that such certification is material for purposes of the government's payment decision and therefore subject to the False Claims Act." It concludes with directions on how to submit the certification. (City of Stockholm) According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the False Claims Act "provides that any person who knowingly submits, or causes to submit, false claims to the government is liable for three times the government's damages plus a penalty that is linked to inflation." The press official for the city of Stockholm told Snopes via email, "The city of Stockholm will not comply with the embassy's demands or respond to the letter." In comments to The Associated Press, Stockholm's Vice Mayor for City Planning Jan Valeskog said of receiving the letter, "We were really surprised, of course. We will not sign this document at all, of course not." Valeskog also told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, "If the U.S. terminates its relationship with the city planning office, the embassy will have difficulty obtaining a building permit if they want to rebuild, for example. That's their headache, not ours." Trump signed Executive Order 14173 on Jan. 21, 2025. According to the text of the order, its purpose was "ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity." It reads in part: Illegal DEI and DEIA policies not only violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws, they also undermine our national unity, as they deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system. Hardworking Americans who deserve a shot at the American Dream should not be stigmatized, demeaned, or shut out of opportunities because of their race or sex. The anti-DEI policies of the Trump administration have been widely criticized, with The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stating, "These EOs will weaken our economy, endanger our national security, and threaten our multi-racial democracy." Civil Division | The False Claims Act. 17 June 2019, "Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." The White House, 22 Jan. 2025, Kassam, Ashifa, and Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspondent. "Stockholm Rejects 'Bizarre' US Letter Urging City to Scrap Diversity Initiatives." The Guardian, 8 May 2025. The Guardian, "Stockholm City Council Rejects US Embassy Demands to End DEI Programming." AP News, 9 May 2025, "Trump's Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Explained." The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Accessed 9 May 2025. "USA:s ambassad kräver lydnad av Stockholms stad: "Bisarrt"." 6 May 2025,
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEI is emerging triumphant in shareholder battles across corporate America from Coca-Cola to Berkshire Hathaway
No matter where you stand politically, it's hard to deny that it's been a banner year for the anti-DEI movement: President Donald Trump has issued executive orders designed to stamp out diversity practices in both the private and public sector, and several large companies have rolled back their DEI programs. This culture shift was the backdrop to several recent anti-DEI shareholder votes at companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Apple, as activists tried to ramp up the fight over diversity and inclusion policies. But while anti-DEI proposals have become more common, they are not gaining in popularity. At companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Apple, investors asked to vote on anti-DEI resolutions are not biting. Across the board, support for these proposals has ranged from only 1% to 2% of voters. To be sure, that has been true in previous years, too. As a general rule, shareholders rarely vote in favor of politically and socially motivated proposals, preferring to let corporate executives make decisions in such realms. Still, the fact that these proposals have landed with a notable thud in such a pivotal year shows a specific kind of corporate resistance to major politicians and anti-DEI crusaders. Below is a look at how some DEI proposals have fared so far this proxy season. Shareholder meeting date: May 6, 2025 The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), a conservative activist shareholder group, submitted a proposal asking that BMS 'cease DEI efforts,' calling the practices discriminatory and suggesting it put the company at risk of discrimination lawsuits. That's a common argument made in several anti-DEI proposals, with the activists citing the Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in college admissions as a warning for private sector companies practicing DEI. But in its proxy statement, Bristol Myers Squibb urged shareholders to reject the NCPPR's proposal, and the drugmaker's board explained its point of view on diversity in no uncertain terms: 'We value inclusion and prioritize building an inclusive workforce in compliance with applicable non-discrimination laws, as do our shareholders,' it wrote. 'We believe our inclusion philosophy leads to greater financial and patient outcomes and generates shareholder value, because it helps drive our strategic goal to reach more patients with our transformative medicines.' The outcome: The NCPPR proposal was rejected by 97% of shareholders, with 1% abstaining and 1% supporting the proposal. Shareholder meeting date: May 3, 2025 Ahead of its May meeting, Berkshire Hathaway sought to exclude a proposal from the NCPPR which asked the company to perform a legal audit of its race-based initiatives, suggesting that the company's DEI policies were putting it at risk of lawsuits. Berkshire's letter to the SEC requesting to omit the proposal—called a 'no-action letter'—cited studies on the benefits of diversity, and included a quote from CEO Warren Buffett speaking at Berkshire's 2023 annual meeting: 'If [I] had been born Black, a woman, or in a different country, [I] wouldn't nearly [have] enjoyed the same type of life [I] have].' The company wasn't successful in blocking the proposal from this year's meeting. But in its proxy statement, the board wrote that a legal audit wasn't necessary and that its policies allow managers to enact programs they see as appropriate for their businesses while complying with the law. It also said that monitoring risks, including social risks, was the duty of Berkshire's Audit Committee. The outcome: At what turned out to be a historic shareholder meeting, with Buffett announcing his plans to step down, shareholders rejected this anti-DEI proposal and a similar one. Both received less than 1% of voters' support. Shareholder meeting date: May 1, 2025 Last year, the conservative activist group National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) submitted a proposal asking the iconic American company to review and consider its executive pay, as well as its DEI hiring goals. Coca-Cola, in a letter filed to SEC, defended its policies and looked to block the proposal from its annual meeting. The beverage giant argued that it seeks to mirror the markets it serves, in order to maximize its performance. The company also said it wanted its workforce diversity to be aligned with U.S. census data. The proposal made it to the vote. So in its 2025 proxy statement, Coca-Cola's board pointed out that the NLPC proposal technically asked the company to do something it was already doing on a regular basis. The outcome:Only 1.1o% of shareholders supported the NLPC's proposal. Shareholder meeting date: April 24, 2025 Ahead of this year's proxy voting season, the NLPC submitted shareholder proposals to Goldman Sachs over its diversity aspirations and executive pay incentives, including the compensation of CEO David Solomon. 'We believe that diversity, including diversity of thought, experience and perspectives, is important to our commercial success,' the bank wrote in its proxy statement, suggesting that shareholders reject the NLPC's resolution. The company also said it's aware that the law on DEI matters is 'evolving,' but that Goldmany is staying on top of changes and had already reviewed and revised some programs where necessary. The bank also said the NLPC had mischaracterized its pay incentive plans. The outcome: 98% of shareholders in the investment bank rejected the conservative proposals. Shareholder meeting date: April 23, 2025 The NCPPR had asked Levi's investors to back a resolution asking the clothing maker to 'consider abolishing its DEI program, policies, department, and goals.' But Levi's has made diversity a core value for years. The Levi's board explained as much in this year's proxy statement, spelling out its philosophy on diversity in the workplace. '[W]e believe in the strong business case for a diverse and inclusive workforce because it supports company performance and also enhances our culture and the well-being of those who make our Company thrive: our employees.' The outcome: Less than 1% of shareholders support the anti-DEI proposal. Shareholder meeting date: Feb. 25, 2025 Last July, Deere famously scaled back its diversity programs, after becoming the focus of an online campaign by conservative influencer Robby Starbuck. The NLPC had also submitted a shareholder proposal asking Deere to produce a report on its racial and gender hiring statistics. As with other resolutions, the NLPC said that stressing diversity in hiring leaves companies open to legal challenges from employees, including white employees who may feel that they are the victims of discrimination. Deere asked shareholders to vote against the resolution in its 2025 proxy statement 'because Deere is committed to treating our employees, who propel us toward achieving our business ambitions, fairly and inclusively.'The outcome: Only 1.3% of voters were in favor of the resolution. Shareholder meeting date: Feb. 25, 2025 Ahead of its annual meeting, Apple asked its shareholders to reject a proposal from the conservative advocacy group NCPPR, which stated the tech company should cease all DEI-related activities, including its diverse supplier programs. In its 2025 proxy statement, Apple wrote: 'We strive to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work.' In its 'no action' request to the SEC, Apple made several arguments against including the proposal at its general meeting, including that the resolution amounted to micromanaging. They were unsuccessful, and NCPPR's proposal was put to a vote. The outcome: More than 97% of shareholders sided with Apple, voting against the NCPPR's resolution. Shareholder meeting date: Jan. 23, 2025 Costco was the first major company to face an anti-DEI proposal this year. In 2024, the NCPPR filed a proposal about Costco's DEI programs, saying that the company had rebranded its policies but still employed a chief diversity officer, maintained a supplier diversity program, and appeared to still consider DEI in hiring and promotion practices. The retailer's response was unequivocal in its pro-DEI stance. In its proxy statement, the board explained that it saw diversity and inclusion as part of its secret to success, and as a key part of how Costco attracts and retains employees, and meets customer needs. 'As our membership diversifies, we believe that serving it with a diverse group of employees enhances satisfaction. Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the 'treasure hunt' that our customers value,' the company wrote. Costco also questioned the motivation behind the proposal, stating: 'The proponent's broader agenda is not reducing risk for the company, but abolition of diversity initiatives.' The outcome: Only 2% of voters supported the anti-DEI resolution, and Costco gained some customer fans. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEI is emerging triumphant in shareholder battles across corporate America from Coca-Cola to Berkshire Hathaway
No matter where you stand politically, it's hard to deny that it's been a banner year for the anti-DEI movement: President Donald Trump has issued executive orders designed to stamp out diversity practices in both the private and public sector, and several large companies have rolled back their DEI programs. This culture shift was the backdrop to several recent anti-DEI shareholder votes at companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Apple, as activists tried to ramp up the fight over diversity and inclusion policies. But while anti-DEI proposals have become more common, they are not gaining in popularity. At companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Apple, investors asked to vote on anti-DEI resolutions are not biting. Across the board, support for these proposals has ranged from only 1% to 2% of voters. To be sure, that has been true in previous years, too. As a general rule, shareholders rarely vote in favor of politically and socially motivated proposals, preferring to let corporate executives make decisions in such realms. Still, the fact that these proposals have landed with a notable thud in such a pivotal year shows a specific kind of corporate resistance to major politicians and anti-DEI crusaders. Below is a look at how some DEI proposals have fared so far this proxy season. Shareholder meeting date: May 6, 2025 The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), a conservative activist shareholder group, submitted a proposal asking that BMS 'cease DEI efforts,' calling the practices discriminatory and suggesting it put the company at risk of discrimination lawsuits. That's a common argument made in several anti-DEI proposals, with the activists citing the Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in college admissions as a warning for private sector companies practicing DEI. But in its proxy statement, Bristol Myers Squibb urged shareholders to reject the NCPPR's proposal, and the drugmaker's board explained its point of view on diversity in no uncertain terms: 'We value inclusion and prioritize building an inclusive workforce in compliance with applicable non-discrimination laws, as do our shareholders,' it wrote. 'We believe our inclusion philosophy leads to greater financial and patient outcomes and generates shareholder value, because it helps drive our strategic goal to reach more patients with our transformative medicines.' The outcome: The NCPPR proposal was rejected by 97% of shareholders, with 1% abstaining and 1% supporting the proposal. Shareholder meeting date: May 3, 2025 Ahead of its May meeting, Berkshire Hathaway sought to exclude a proposal from the NCPPR which asked the company to perform a legal audit of its race-based initiatives, suggesting that the company's DEI policies were putting it at risk of lawsuits. Berkshire's letter to the SEC requesting to omit the proposal—called a 'no-action letter'—cited studies on the benefits of diversity, and included a quote from CEO Warren Buffett speaking at Berkshire's 2023 annual meeting: 'If [I] had been born Black, a woman, or in a different country, [I] wouldn't nearly [have] enjoyed the same type of life [I] have].' The company wasn't successful in blocking the proposal from this year's meeting. But in its proxy statement, the board wrote that a legal audit wasn't necessary and that its policies allow managers to enact programs they see as appropriate for their businesses while complying with the law. It also said that monitoring risks, including social risks, was the duty of Berkshire's Audit Committee. The outcome: At what turned out to be a historic shareholder meeting, with Buffett announcing his plans to step down, shareholders rejected this anti-DEI proposal and a similar one. Both received less than 1% of voters' support. Shareholder meeting date: May 1, 2025 Last year, the conservative activist group National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) submitted a proposal asking the iconic American company to review and consider its executive pay, as well as its DEI hiring goals. Coca-Cola, in a letter filed to SEC, defended its policies and looked to block the proposal from its annual meeting. The beverage giant argued that it seeks to mirror the markets it serves, in order to maximize its performance. The company also said it wanted its workforce diversity to be aligned with U.S. census data. The proposal made it to the vote. So in its 2025 proxy statement, Coca-Cola's board pointed out that the NLPC proposal technically asked the company to do something it was already doing on a regular basis. The outcome:Only 1.1o% of shareholders supported the NLPC's proposal. Shareholder meeting date: April 24, 2025 Ahead of this year's proxy voting season, the NLPC submitted shareholder proposals to Goldman Sachs over its diversity aspirations and executive pay incentives, including the compensation of CEO David Solomon. 'We believe that diversity, including diversity of thought, experience and perspectives, is important to our commercial success,' the bank wrote in its proxy statement, suggesting that shareholders reject the NLPC's resolution. The company also said it's aware that the law on DEI matters is 'evolving,' but that Goldmany is staying on top of changes and had already reviewed and revised some programs where necessary. The bank also said the NLPC had mischaracterized its pay incentive plans. The outcome: 98% of shareholders in the investment bank rejected the conservative proposals. Shareholder meeting date: April 23, 2025 The NCPPR had asked Levi's investors to back a resolution asking the clothing maker to 'consider abolishing its DEI program, policies, department, and goals.' But Levi's has made diversity a core value for years. The Levi's board explained as much in this year's proxy statement, spelling out its philosophy on diversity in the workplace. '[W]e believe in the strong business case for a diverse and inclusive workforce because it supports company performance and also enhances our culture and the well-being of those who make our Company thrive: our employees.' The outcome: Less than 1% of shareholders support the anti-DEI proposal. Shareholder meeting date: Feb. 25, 2025 Last July, Deere famously scaled back its diversity programs, after becoming the focus of an online campaign by conservative influencer Robby Starbuck. The NLPC had also submitted a shareholder proposal asking Deere to produce a report on its racial and gender hiring statistics. As with other resolutions, the NLPC said that stressing diversity in hiring leaves companies open to legal challenges from employees, including white employees who may feel that they are the victims of discrimination. Deere asked shareholders to vote against the resolution in its 2025 proxy statement 'because Deere is committed to treating our employees, who propel us toward achieving our business ambitions, fairly and inclusively.'The outcome: Only 1.3% of voters were in favor of the resolution. Shareholder meeting date: Feb. 25, 2025 Ahead of its annual meeting, Apple asked its shareholders to reject a proposal from the conservative advocacy group NCPPR, which stated the tech company should cease all DEI-related activities, including its diverse supplier programs. In its 2025 proxy statement, Apple wrote: 'We strive to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work.' In its 'no action' request to the SEC, Apple made several arguments against including the proposal at its general meeting, including that the resolution amounted to micromanaging. They were unsuccessful, and NCPPR's proposal was put to a vote. The outcome: More than 97% of shareholders sided with Apple, voting against the NCPPR's resolution. Shareholder meeting date: Jan. 23, 2025 Costco was the first major company to face an anti-DEI proposal this year. In 2024, the NCPPR filed a proposal about Costco's DEI programs, saying that the company had rebranded its policies but still employed a chief diversity officer, maintained a supplier diversity program, and appeared to still consider DEI in hiring and promotion practices. The retailer's response was unequivocal in its pro-DEI stance. In its proxy statement, the board explained that it saw diversity and inclusion as part of its secret to success, and as a key part of how Costco attracts and retains employees, and meets customer needs. 'As our membership diversifies, we believe that serving it with a diverse group of employees enhances satisfaction. Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the 'treasure hunt' that our customers value,' the company wrote. Costco also questioned the motivation behind the proposal, stating: 'The proponent's broader agenda is not reducing risk for the company, but abolition of diversity initiatives.' The outcome: Only 2% of voters supported the anti-DEI resolution, and Costco gained some customer fans. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEI is emerging triumphant in shareholder battles across corporate America from Coca-Cola to Berkshire Hathaway
No matter where you stand politically, it's hard to deny that it's been a banner year for the anti-DEI movement: President Donald Trump has issued executive orders designed to stamp out diversity practices in both the private and public sector, and several large companies have rolled back their DEI programs. This culture shift was the backdrop to several recent anti-DEI shareholder votes at companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Apple, as activists tried to ramp up the fight over diversity and inclusion policies. But while anti-DEI proposals have become more common, they are not gaining in popularity. At companies ranging from Coca-Cola to Apple, investors asked to vote on anti-DEI resolutions are not biting. Across the board, support for these proposals has ranged from only 1% to 2% of voters. To be sure, that has been true in previous years, too. As a general rule, shareholders rarely vote in favor of politically and socially motivated proposals, preferring to let corporate executives make decisions in such realms. Still, the fact that these proposals have landed with a notable thud in such a pivotal year shows a specific kind of corporate resistance to major politicians and anti-DEI crusaders. Below is a look at how some DEI proposals have fared so far this proxy season. Shareholder meeting date: May 6, 2025 The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), a conservative activist shareholder group, submitted a proposal asking that BMS 'cease DEI efforts,' calling the practices discriminatory and suggesting it put the company at risk of discrimination lawsuits. That's a common argument made in several anti-DEI proposals, with the activists citing the Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in college admissions as a warning for private sector companies practicing DEI. But in its proxy statement, Bristol Myers Squibb urged shareholders to reject the NCPPR's proposal, and the drugmaker's board explained its point of view on diversity in no uncertain terms: 'We value inclusion and prioritize building an inclusive workforce in compliance with applicable non-discrimination laws, as do our shareholders,' it wrote. 'We believe our inclusion philosophy leads to greater financial and patient outcomes and generates shareholder value, because it helps drive our strategic goal to reach more patients with our transformative medicines.' The outcome: The NCPPR proposal was rejected by 97% of shareholders, with 1% abstaining and 1% supporting the proposal. Shareholder meeting date: May 3, 2025 Ahead of its May meeting, Berkshire Hathaway sought to exclude a proposal from the NCPPR which asked the company to perform a legal audit of its race-based initiatives, suggesting that the company's DEI policies were putting it at risk of lawsuits. Berkshire's letter to the SEC requesting to omit the proposal—called a 'no-action letter'—cited studies on the benefits of diversity, and included a quote from CEO Warren Buffett speaking at Berkshire's 2023 annual meeting: 'If [I] had been born Black, a woman, or in a different country, [I] wouldn't nearly [have] enjoyed the same type of life [I] have].' The company wasn't successful in blocking the proposal from this year's meeting. But in its proxy statement, the board wrote that a legal audit wasn't necessary and that its policies allow managers to enact programs they see as appropriate for their businesses while complying with the law. It also said that monitoring risks, including social risks, was the duty of Berkshire's Audit Committee. The outcome: At what turned out to be a historic shareholder meeting, with Buffett announcing his plans to step down, shareholders rejected this anti-DEI proposal and a similar one. Both received less than 1% of voters' support. Shareholder meeting date: May 1, 2025 Last year, the conservative activist group National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) submitted a proposal asking the iconic American company to review and consider its executive pay, as well as its DEI hiring goals. Coca-Cola, in a letter filed to SEC, defended its policies and looked to block the proposal from its annual meeting. The beverage giant argued that it seeks to mirror the markets it serves, in order to maximize its performance. The company also said it wanted its workforce diversity to be aligned with U.S. census data. The proposal made it to the vote. So in its 2025 proxy statement, Coca-Cola's board pointed out that the NLPC proposal technically asked the company to do something it was already doing on a regular basis. The outcome:Only 1.1o% of shareholders supported the NLPC's proposal. Shareholder meeting date: April 24, 2025 Ahead of this year's proxy voting season, the NLPC submitted shareholder proposals to Goldman Sachs over its diversity aspirations and executive pay incentives, including the compensation of CEO David Solomon. 'We believe that diversity, including diversity of thought, experience and perspectives, is important to our commercial success,' the bank wrote in its proxy statement, suggesting that shareholders reject the NLPC's resolution. The company also said it's aware that the law on DEI matters is 'evolving,' but that Goldmany is staying on top of changes and had already reviewed and revised some programs where necessary. The bank also said the NLPC had mischaracterized its pay incentive plans. The outcome: 98% of shareholders in the investment bank rejected the conservative proposals. Shareholder meeting date: April 23, 2025 The NCPPR had asked Levi's investors to back a resolution asking the clothing maker to 'consider abolishing its DEI program, policies, department, and goals.' But Levi's has made diversity a core value for years. The Levi's board explained as much in this year's proxy statement, spelling out its philosophy on diversity in the workplace. '[W]e believe in the strong business case for a diverse and inclusive workforce because it supports company performance and also enhances our culture and the well-being of those who make our Company thrive: our employees.' The outcome: Less than 1% of shareholders support the anti-DEI proposal. Shareholder meeting date: Feb. 25, 2025 Last July, Deere famously scaled back its diversity programs, after becoming the focus of an online campaign by conservative influencer Robby Starbuck. The NLPC had also submitted a shareholder proposal asking Deere to produce a report on its racial and gender hiring statistics. As with other resolutions, the NLPC said that stressing diversity in hiring leaves companies open to legal challenges from employees, including white employees who may feel that they are the victims of discrimination. Deere asked shareholders to vote against the resolution in its 2025 proxy statement 'because Deere is committed to treating our employees, who propel us toward achieving our business ambitions, fairly and inclusively.'The outcome: Only 1.3% of voters were in favor of the resolution. Shareholder meeting date: Feb. 25, 2025 Ahead of its annual meeting, Apple asked its shareholders to reject a proposal from the conservative advocacy group NCPPR, which stated the tech company should cease all DEI-related activities, including its diverse supplier programs. In its 2025 proxy statement, Apple wrote: 'We strive to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work.' In its 'no action' request to the SEC, Apple made several arguments against including the proposal at its general meeting, including that the resolution amounted to micromanaging. They were unsuccessful, and NCPPR's proposal was put to a vote. The outcome: More than 97% of shareholders sided with Apple, voting against the NCPPR's resolution. Shareholder meeting date: Jan. 23, 2025 Costco was the first major company to face an anti-DEI proposal this year. In 2024, the NCPPR filed a proposal about Costco's DEI programs, saying that the company had rebranded its policies but still employed a chief diversity officer, maintained a supplier diversity program, and appeared to still consider DEI in hiring and promotion practices. The retailer's response was unequivocal in its pro-DEI stance. In its proxy statement, the board explained that it saw diversity and inclusion as part of its secret to success, and as a key part of how Costco attracts and retains employees, and meets customer needs. 'As our membership diversifies, we believe that serving it with a diverse group of employees enhances satisfaction. Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the 'treasure hunt' that our customers value,' the company wrote. Costco also questioned the motivation behind the proposal, stating: 'The proponent's broader agenda is not reducing risk for the company, but abolition of diversity initiatives.' The outcome: Only 2% of voters supported the anti-DEI resolution, and Costco gained some customer fans. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Military academies ordered to review books for possible removal
Military academies ordered to review books for possible removal CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with Howard University Law professor Sherrilyn Ifill about the latest orders for military academies to review their library books for subjects and terms that go against the Trump administration's anti-DEI initiatives. 01:36 - Source: CNN Vertical Politics of the Day 11 videos Military academies ordered to review books for possible removal CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with Howard University Law professor Sherrilyn Ifill about the latest orders for military academies to review their library books for subjects and terms that go against the Trump administration's anti-DEI initiatives. 01:36 - Source: CNN Breaking down Trump's 'big beautiful bill' CNN's Manu Ranju spoke with GOP representatives who say they're divided over President Donald Trump's proposed 'big beautiful bill' that aims to cut trillions more from the federal budget and overhaul Medicaid. 02:08 - Source: CNN Trump calls election of American pope 'great honor' President Donald Trump celebrated the news that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected as Pope Leo XIV. 00:34 - Source: CNN 'I take responsibility': Biden addresses Trump's presidential win Former President Joe Biden said he 'wasn't surprised' by Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 election loss and admitted his administration failed to communicate some of their achievements during an interview on 'The View.' 00:55 - Source: CNN Biden reacts to Pope Leo XIV's election Former President Joe Biden tell CNN's Dana Bash that he's pleased to see Pope Leo XIV making history as the first American pope. 00:32 - Source: CNN First cargo ships facing 145% tariffs arrive in LA Ships now pulling into LA's harbor from China are the first to be subject to massive tariffs. Shipments have dropped by 50%. CNN's Nick Watt is on the ground at the port of Los Angeles. 01:00 - Source: CNN Transgender Navy veteran reacts to military ban A transgender US Navy veteran responds to the Supreme Court's decision that President Trump's ban on transgender troops serving in the military is effective immediately. Abby Phillip and the CNN NewsNight panel react. 01:56 - Source: CNN Trump urges India-Pakistan attacks to 'stop' President Donald Trump emphasized to reporters that the US 'gets along with both countries very well,' when asked about the deadly eruption of fighting between India and Pakistan. 00:27 - Source: CNN Carney says he asked Trump to stop '51st State' threats Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters following his meeting with President Trump at the White House he asked Trump to stop threatening to annex Canada. During the meeting, Carney told Trump in the Oval Office that Canada 'won't be for sale ever.' 01:04 - Source: CNN Trump supporters on third term Comedians Davram Stiefler and Jason Selvig regularly attend Trump rallies, speaking with the President's supporters for their podcast, 'The Good Liars Tell the Truth.' They tell CNN's Laura Coates there was 'constant forgiveness for anything' that President Trump does, including a possible third term. 01:31 - Source: CNN How businesses are waiting out tariffs With Trump's new tariffs in place on products from countries like China, many businesses are looking at bonded warehouses as a way to legally avoid paying the extra dues, for now. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones explains how they work. 01:01 - Source: CNN
