Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with a coalition of 12 other attorneys general, has expressed serious concerns to Walmart regarding its recent decision to distance itself from previously established diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. The coalition’s letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon highlights the potential negative impact of discontinuing supplier diversity programs, dismantling the Center for Racial Equality, ending equity trainings, and removing references to “diversity” and “DEI” from corporate materials and job titles.
The move by Walmart comes after the establishment of its Center for Racial Equality in 2020, a response to widespread calls for social justice following the murder of George Floyd. At the time, McMillon emphasized that social justice and equity were integral to Walmart’s core operations.
Attorney General Brown stated, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies are essential for preventing discrimination and rectifying historic injustices against marginalized groups. Rolling back these initiatives sends a harmful message to smaller businesses and undermines national efforts toward equality.”
The coalition criticized efforts by DEI opponents to misuse the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College to unjustifiably pressure organizations against maintaining DEI programs. The attorneys general reaffirmed the legality of DEI initiatives, noting that such programs are not only lawful but also crucial for compliance with civil rights laws.
Furthermore, the coalition emphasized the business advantages of DEI, citing studies linking diverse leadership to better financial performance and consumer preferences for companies that reflect societal diversity. The group includes the attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. They collectively urge Walmart to reconsider its decision and continue its support for DEI practices.
