Summarised by Centrist
Harley-Davidson has bowed to intense pressure from anti-DEI activists, announcing that it will no longer support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The iconic motorcycle brand stated it was “saddened” by the backlash but has decided to abandon its DEI policies to better align with the “needs of both our business and community.”
Harley-Davidson’s statement confirmed the elimination of hiring quotas and diversity spend goals, along with a review of all sponsorships and affiliations, focusing exclusively on motorcycling and its core community, including first responders and veterans.
The company also announced it will no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) scoring for policies on sexual minorities, where it previously scored a low 45 out of 100.
The move follows similar rollbacks by John Deere and Tractor Supply, prompted by anti-woke activist Robbie Starbuck, who celebrated Harley’s reversal as “another win for our movement.”
The announcement came on the heels of the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota, where Harley faced significant criticism from attendees over its DEI stance.
Despite this pivot, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Harley-Davidson still plans to shift some production to Thailand. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers condemned the move as a “betrayal of the company’s legacy as an American icon.”
