Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside 13 other state attorneys general, has sent a letter to Walmart's President and CEO Doug McMillon. The letter addresses concerns about Walmart's recent decision to step back from its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The group urges Walmart to reconsider plans that include phasing out supplier diversity programs, closing the Center for Racial Equality, ending equity training for staff, and removing DEI-related language from company documents and employee titles. These initiatives were originally established following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 when McMillon emphasized social justice as "essential" to Walmart’s core business.
"Diversity initiatives are not just laudable goals; they are also broadly popular and good for business," Raoul stated. He criticized Walmart's move as abandoning employees and consumers who expect the company to uphold its promises.
The letter highlights how opponents of diversity initiatives have tried to extend the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College beyond its intended scope. The attorneys general assert that DEI programs remain legal and argue that such efforts help companies comply with civil rights laws at both state and federal levels.
Additionally, the letter emphasizes the business benefits of DEI initiatives by citing studies linking diverse leadership teams with higher financial returns. Consumer research indicates widespread support among Americans for businesses actively promoting corporate culture reflective of American diversity.
This action is part of Raoul's ongoing efforts since the Supreme Court’s SFFA ruling in 2023 to defend DEI programs. He has also addressed unfounded criticisms tying diversity initiatives to unrelated events like an act of terrorism in New Orleans on New Year's Day.
Attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont joined Raoul in sending this letter.