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McDonald’s recently spoke out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Both McDonald’s President, Joe Erlinger, and CEO, Chris Kempczinski, have spoken out in support, and the company shared a video on Twitter as well.
Because some of you are asking, and it matters to us that you all know, McDonald’s does not contribute to presidential candidates.
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) June 4, 2020
In the video, the company makes its position clear: “We stand for them and any other victims of systemic oppression and violence.”
The video continued, “We do not tolerate inequity, injustice, or racism.”
McDonald's will also be donating $1 million to the National Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
In an open letter, Erlinger also spoke about their decision to speak out. He explained, "[McDonald's] tended to stay silent on issues that don't directly involve our business."
However, he continued, he was "appalled by recent events in Louisville, Georgia, New York, and Minneapolis."
The letter continued, "I will not speak to – nor will I claim to fully understand – how events like these affect African Americans and people of color."
"However, I see and recognize the impact these events have at an individual and collective level. And, when any member of our McFamily hurts, we all hurt," he wrote.
According to Business Insider, Chris Kempczinski wrote a letter directly to employees, explaining, "[the] killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky were truly shocking to me, and revealed how intractable hate and ignorance are in our society."
He continued, "The protests across the country over the last few days give voice to the anger, sadness, and despair so many of us are feeling right now."
