Macy’s Bumps Trump
In the wake of public pressure over his recent inflammatory comments about immigration and Mexican-Americans, Macy’s announced today that it will be severing its relationship with Donald Trump and pulling his branded merchandise from its stores.
“Macy’s is a company that stands for diversity and inclusion. We have no tolerance for discrimination in any form. We welcome all customers, and respect for the dignity of all people is a cornerstone of our culture. We are disappointed and distressed by recent remarks about immigrants from Mexico. We do not believe the disparaging characterizations portray an accurate picture of the many Mexicans, Mexican Americans and Latinos who have made so many valuable contributions to the success of our nation,” the company said in an official statement. “In light of statements made by Donald Trump, which are inconsistent with Macy’s values, we have decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump and will phase-out the Trump menswear collection, which has been sold at Macy’s since 2004.”
The Trump menswear collection includes dress shirts, ties and cuff links and Trump previously appeared in television commercials for the department store.
The giant retailer made its decision after more than 729,000 people signed an online petition on Moveon.org asking Macy’s to sever ties with the millionaire businessman and Republican presidential candidate. “In the last few days, Donald Trump has demonstrated what participants in the Dump Trump effort have been warning Macy’s about for years — that Donald Trump’s brand of bigoted bullying is simply bad for business,” said the petition’s creator, Angelo Carusone, in a statement this morning. “After more than three years of allowing Donald Trump’s toxic brand to turn off thousands of customers and damage their own reputation, Macy’s has finally made the right decision to stop investing in and supporting Donald Trump. Onward!”
Presente.com, the USA’s largest online Latino organization, was equally jubilant about the announcement. “Today, diversity wins,” said Arturo Carmona, its executive director, in a statement. “We are thrilled to see Macy’s dumping Donald Trump’s toxic discrimination against Latinos. Macy’s could never expect Latinos to flock to their stores while supporting a man who paints Mexican-Americans as rapists and killers, and we are encouraged that today, inclusion wins over discrimination.”