Some Businesses Give Support to Nationwide Protests
2020-06-03
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1American companies are usually quiet during protests. Not this time.
2Some technology, media, banking and clothing companies have stated their support for protests against police treatment of black people across the country.
3The protests started after a video appeared of a policeman with his knee pressed on a black man's neck during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
4The man, George Floyd, repeatedly said, "I can't breathe" as the crowd asked the officer to stop.
5Floyd died a short time later.
6Protests started in Minneapolis and quickly spread to cities in nearly 50 states and Washington D.C.
7Many quickly became violent and highly destructive as angry people burned buildings and attacked officers.
8Kellie McElhaney is a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
9She said, "I am shocked by the number of executives who have spoken up for the first time."
10She said the reason that company officials are giving their support to the protests is because of the brutality of the video.
11The companies "are run by humans," she said.
12Netlfix, a service that streams movies and television on the internet, sent out a tweet saying, "To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter."
13Google added, "We stand in support of racial equality, and all those who search for it."
14Twitter changed its official webpage to include #BlackLivesMatter on it.
15Microsoft chief Satya Nadella reportedly told employees to join him in calling "for change in our company, in our communities, and in society at large."
16Citibank's top financial officer Mark Mason wrote in a blog, "Racism continues to be at the root of so much pain and ugliness in our society."
17A large number of businesses in many cities have been attacked and damaged with goods stolen and windows broken.
18The Associated Press reports that Target, CVS, Apple and Walmart have closed or reduced hours in many cities for safety reasons.
19Target has closed or limited hours in 200 stores.
20Target has its headquarters in Minneapolis.
21The company's chief said Floyd's death had released the "pent-up pain of years."
22McElhaney said companies risk losing buyers, partners, suppliers and employees who do not agree with the position they make public.
23They also risk being seen as using the incident to sell their products in a way that Americans do not find honest.
24But businesses also face the risk of not saying anything.
25Younger employees look to company leaders to take a position.
26"I tend to believe that people are speaking up because there is no other option," McElhaney said.
27She said that is especially the case with minority employees.
28In 2018, the sports product company Nike advertised its support for Colin Kaepernick.
29The athlete was a former professional American football player who protested police treatment of African Americans in the United States.
30Days after the violent protests started, Nike tweeted: "Let's all be part of the change."
31Adidas, a competitor of Nike, retweeted it with the reply: "Together is how we move forward. Together is how we make change."
32I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1American companies are usually quiet during protests. Not this time. 2Some technology, media, banking and clothing companies have stated their support for protests against police treatment of black people across the country. 3The protests started after a video appeared of a policeman with his knee pressed on a black man's neck during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The man, George Floyd, repeatedly said, "I can't breathe" as the crowd asked the officer to stop. Floyd died a short time later. 4Protests started in Minneapolis and quickly spread to cities in nearly 50 states and Washington D.C. Many quickly became violent and highly destructive as angry people burned buildings and attacked officers. 5Kellie McElhaney is a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. She said, "I am shocked by the number of executives who have spoken up for the first time." 6She said the reason that company officials are giving their support to the protests is because of the brutality of the video. The companies "are run by humans," she said. 7Netlfix, a service that streams movies and television on the internet, sent out a tweet saying, "To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter." 8Google added, "We stand in support of racial equality, and all those who search for it." 9Twitter changed its official webpage to include #BlackLivesMatter on it. 10Microsoft chief Satya Nadella reportedly told employees to join him in calling "for change in our company, in our communities, and in society at large." 11Citibank's top financial officer Mark Mason wrote in a blog, "Racism continues to be at the root of so much pain and ugliness in our society." 12A large number of businesses in many cities have been attacked and damaged with goods stolen and windows broken. The Associated Press reports that Target, CVS, Apple and Walmart have closed or reduced hours in many cities for safety reasons. Target has closed or limited hours in 200 stores. 13Target has its headquarters in Minneapolis. The company's chief said Floyd's death had released the "pent-up pain of years." 14Risks of speaking or remaining silent 15McElhaney said companies risk losing buyers, partners, suppliers and employees who do not agree with the position they make public. They also risk being seen as using the incident to sell their products in a way that Americans do not find honest. 16But businesses also face the risk of not saying anything. Younger employees look to company leaders to take a position. 17"I tend to believe that people are speaking up because there is no other option," McElhaney said. She said that is especially the case with minority employees. 18In 2018, the sports product company Nike advertised its support for Colin Kaepernick. The athlete was a former professional American football player who protested police treatment of African Americans in the United States. 19Days after the violent protests started, Nike tweeted: "Let's all be part of the change." 20Adidas, a competitor of Nike, retweeted it with the reply: "Together is how we move forward. Together is how we make change." 21I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 22Michelle Quinn reported this story for VOANEWS. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 23________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25brutality -n. cruel, harsh and often violent treatment of another person 26complicit -adj. helped others to carry out a crime or wrongdoing 27pent-up -adj. held or kept inside, not released 28tend -v. to be likely to do something 29option -n. a choice, a possibility of become real