Led by Iowa and Kansas, 20 state attorneys general sent a letter to Costco demanding that the company fully repeal its discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) practices. These are practices that promote quota hiring to ensure that various categories of humans are represented in the workforce, including hiring by race and sexual preference, rather than by qualifications. Costco does not practice race-neutral hiring, in violation of federal law.
The letter to Ron Vachris, president and chief executive officer of Costco, follows President Donald Trump’s executive order encouraging “the Private Sector to End Illegal DEI discrimination and Preferences.”
All of the signatories are from Republican-run states of Iowa, Kansas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court repeatedly warning against the use of race-based preferences and sexual preference classifications, the board of directors of Costco voted this month to retain its support for its DEI practices and policies, even while other companies are quickly abandoning these unlawful acts after being called out by members of the public. A shareholder effort to end the practice was quashed by the board.
“Discriminatory DEI policies are unethical, unlawful, and fundamentally un-American,” commented Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton one of the signers of the letter. “The fact that Costco continues to defend such practices is reprehensible. DEI programs consistently promote divisive and discriminatory ideology as opposed to ensuring that all individuals are treated equally and with respect, and that’s why I’m calling on Costco to end their woke policies immediately.”
Race-neutral practices, on the other hand, honor the founding ideals of this country, the group’s letter said.
“Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado held that “It must become the heritage of our Nation to rise above racial classifications that are so
inconsistent with our commitment to the equal dignity of all persons.”
As Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in Harvard, DEI is inconsistent with the “principles so clearly enunciated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States: that all men are created equal, are equal citizens, and must be treated equally before the law.” Costco should not have policies that discriminate in hiring based on race or gender,” the attorneys wrote.
The letter concluded by asking Costco to inform the coalition within 30 days if its DEI policies have been repealed.
To read the full letter, click here.
Sadly I don’t see Alaska on the list
DEI is unlawful as it’s discriminatory and is the opposite of “Equal”. You remember Equal Rights for All? Yes, an Anti-American concept. Let’s get back to Merit. I didn’t see Alaska in this story.
And Alaska is not even in the game.
How will this be regulated after all of the regulators take early buyouts? Telling a private business what to do demonstrates how Trump has twisted the Republican Party.
To Costco…….comply starting today!!
20 states, but no Alaska…
Why didn’t Alaska sign on?
Been to a Costco here in AK…..It’s DEI central.
They want Costco to go to the ‘white privilege” hiring practices.