LEVI’S SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO UPHOLD COMMITTMENT TO DIVERSITY
A vote was held in yesterday’s Levi Strauss & Co. shareholder call regarding a request that the company cease all DEI practices. The demand to have the vote was initiated by one of the board advisors to Project 2025, the federal policy agenda being advanced by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR, a conservative think tank). The representative joined the call and read from a report on DEI produced by Project 21 (a leadership network of Black conservatives) without citing that NCPPR fully sponsors Project 21 itself or that Project 21 is a black-only group created to add diversity to the NCPPR in its efforts to advocate for conservative policy.)
Following the implementation of DEI policies by Levi Strauss & Co., the company has seen continued steady growth. Quarterly and annual profits for the 170+ year-old company have been strong, growing 7.23% in 2024.
In the Q&A portion following the vote, the sole question raised was answered to affirm that the company’s DEI practices do not include quotas or unlawful discrimination practices in its hiring policies.
In a statement from CEO Michelle Gass, she said, “We’ve been committed to diversity and inclusion for literally decades, and it’s the core of who we are. So our commitment remains unchanged.”
Target and Walmart recently complied with the NCPPR’s proposal to roll back DEI policies to detrimental results. A national boycott of these stores has been called for, which customers are heeding. Foot traffic at the two retailers has reportedly decreased sharply for the 10th consecutive week.
Following the call, the precise vote total of shareholder support for Levi’s DEI policies was released. The vote was 99+% in support of DEI.