John Deere Drops Some DEI Policies Days After Facing Cyber ​​Attacks

• John Deere has backed away from a number of DEI initiatives, apparently in response to online criticism.
• The company said it would not participate in outdoor “cultural awareness” marches and reiterated its lack of a pronoun policy.
• In a widely circulated video, conservative activist Robbie Starbuck said John Deere was “woke.”

Tractor maker John Deere has backed away from DEI initiatives after facing heavy criticism from conservatives online.

John Deere “will no longer participate in or support outdoor social or cultural awareness marches, festivals or events,” it said in a statement. mail On Tuesday the tenth.

It said it would review the company’s mandated training materials “to ensure there are no socially motivated messages” and that its business resource groups would focus “exclusively” on professional development, networking, mentoring and talent recruitment support.

The farm machinery company added that diversity quotas and pronoun identification “have never been and are not company policy.”

Although it did not specify why the changes were made, John Deere’s post came shortly after criticism from conservative activist Robbie Starbuck and his followers.

Starbuck said the company has “woke up” in a video It was posted on X on July 9. At the time of writing, the video has over 50,000 likes and over 5 million views.

Starbuck said in the video that John Deere introduced the pronoun policy, showing a screenshot he said was from the company’s website that “encouraged” employees to use their pronouns in their email signatures.

He also said that John Deere sponsored Capital City Pride Little Rainbow Runa fun-filled ride for kids in Iowa that raised money for Capital City Pride events.

After John Deere’s involvement on X, Starbuck celebrated, calling for action. “Huge win” and Saying his followers areHelp me force corporate America to come to its senses.”

Business Insider could not independently verify whether John Deere has a conscience policy or whether it sponsored the Pride event.

In a number of Videos On John Deere’s Facebook page with the caption “Rainbow Ally,” the company identified workers’ pronouns on screen. It’s also to publish In April 2022 on the importance of “using the correct pronouns.”

The company did not respond to a request for comment from BI John about whether the Starbucks video prompted a policy change and what measures it still has in place to support LGBTQ+ employees. John Deere said in its X post that it will continue to “track and advance” the company’s diversity.

John Deere’s announcement came just six weeks after the Labor Department announced He said The company has agreed to pay $1.1 million in back wages and benefits to black and Hispanic job applicants because of what the Labor Department called “systemic hiring discrimination.”

Starbucks launched a Similar campaign Against Tractor Supply Company in June. In late June, the company Advertise It will stop providing data to the Human Rights Campaign, stop sponsoring “non-commercial” activities like Pride festivals and get-out-the-vote campaigns, eliminate DEI roles, and withdraw its carbon emissions targets.

Conservative activists have previously targeted other companies over their Pride initiatives, such as Target’s Pride collection last year. Some conservatives also led a boycott of Bud Light after it launched a social media promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.