Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
Companies like Netflix, McDonald's, and Target are speaking out amid the George Floyd protests — and some are actually taking action
Companies like Netflix, McDonald's, and Target are speaking out amid the George Floyd protests — and some are actually taking action
Jessica SnouwaertJun 2, 2020, 05:04 IST
FILE PHOTO: Protesters rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in PortlandReuters
Protests are spreading through the US after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes.
Many companies are weighing in on the protests, but not all of them have announced specific actions, donations, or internal changes.
Read more to see how companies and their leaders are responding.
Protests erupted across the US after the death of George Floyd, the 46-year-old black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and now companies are speaking out.
From Amazon to Glossier to Snap, CEOs and companies are releasing statements in support of justice and racial equality.
While some companies detailed donations or internal changes they would be making, others have yet to, so we sifted through the statements and pressed companies for specifics in any instances where vague language or promises have been made.
Here's a list of companies who have come out with statements, letters, and responses related to the death of George Floyd and the resulting protests — and what they're actually doing.
YouTube said it would pledge $1 million "in support of efforts to address social justice."
McDonald's President Joe Erlinger wrote a post on LinkedIn expressing the company's commitment to inclusion, and its CEO said it would hold a town hall.
McDonald's President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski
AP Photo/Richard Drew
Advertisement
Amazon released a message on Twitter Sunday stating, "The inequitable and brutal treatment of Black people in our country must stop."
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel called for a reparations commission in the US to confront racial injustice, as well as taxes that address racial injustice, according to a memo obtained by The Information.
Evan Spiegel, Snap cofounder and CEO, speaks at the 2018 Code conference
Greg Sandoval/Business Insider
Advertisement
Target CEO Brian Cornell released a statement delineating how the company would address the situation in Minneapolis after a Target was looted amid protests and other Target locations were damaged.
Andrew Burton / Getty Images
Skincare and beauty company Glossier announced it would donate $500,000 to Black Lives Matter, The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Equal Justice Initiative, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and We the Protesters.
Glossier
Advertisement
Starbucks posted a letter from the company's CEO Kevin Johnson that highlighted conversations between the company's partners about racial inequality and injustice.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson
Associated Press/Richard Drew
Mark Zuckerberg posted on Facebook Sunday pledging $10 million dollars toward fighting racial injustice.
Facebook Chairman and CEO Zuckerberg testifies at a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington
Reuters
Advertisement
Disney released a statement declaring it stood for inclusion and supported black communities.
TikTok releases statement committing to diversity after hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter views were temporarily hidden from the platform.
Advertisement
Apple CEO Tim Cook said "justice is how we heal" in a post on Twitter, and pledged to donate in a memo to employees.
Getty
Netflix aligns its support with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Advertisement
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella released a statement Thursday advocating for change through empathy.
Satya Nadella in February 2019.
REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Uber announced it would give $1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative and The Center for Policing Equity.
Advertisement
Nike released a new ad urging for social change.
Spotify committed itself to solidarity with the black community.
Advertisement
CEO of Coach and Kate Spade-owner Tapestry Inc. said he cried writing a letter to stakeholders.
Tapestry
The Brooklyn Nets and teams across the NBA express a desire for change.
The words: "The organizations represented by the undersigned are committed to using our voice and platform to facilitate empathy and dialogue to help find answers, to heal the wound and pain," The Brooklyn Net's statement read.
The action: The team is one of a couple of dozen teams that released statements expressing heartbreak over George Floyd's death. However, The Brooklyn Net's statement did not include specific actionable steps it would take to combat racism and injustice in the future.
"Not all of us can ever be in a position to experience the personal pain, fear and despair of Black Americans in light of the events," the statement said. "But our instinct tells us that the lack of respect for human life, fueled by prejudice, is simply wrong."