“Give money and shut up” was once upon a time

The controversy over electoral reform in the US is no longer limited to parliaments and the streets. Companies are also defending themselves against tightening – and against muzzles from politics.

From Arthur Landwehr, ARD studio Washington She doesn’t want to stand idly by: “Companies across the country stand for diversity and inclusion, and we can’t just keep quiet about that,” says entrepreneur Lynn Forrester de Rothschild. “That makes us unbelievable towards our employees and our customers”, says the founder of the organization “Inclusive Capitalism”. More than 100 CEOs from major corporations in the US met for a political video conference over the weekend. “What should we do if several states pass laws that make it harder for African Americans to vote?” – that was her question. And she states: “When companies oppose voting restrictions, they act as patriots.”

It started in Georgia

It started with protests by large corporations against the electoral reform in Georgia. More than 70 African American company bosses had urged their colleagues to act. Some of the major influential churches joined. Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta Airlines and many more responded and protested. One of the most important baseball games of the season was relocated from Georgia.

The companies speak up

But Georgia is not alone, many Republican states are going down the same path, apparently out of anger over the lost elections. The discussion about equality, which rocked the whole country last year, is now causing companies to respond. “We have seen many companies that have put large investments in these states on hold, initially bringing neither equipment nor employees to these states,” says Jeffen Sonnenfeld of the Yale School of Management, organizer of the weekend meeting. “We want harmony in society,” says Lynn Forrester de Rothschild. That is good for companies. There is also no agreement on what exactly to do. It was discussed, however, to use campaign donations in a more targeted manner, to give nothing more to those who voted for these laws. There are already protests from Republican politicians, especially Senator Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader: “My warning goes to companies in America. They should stay out of politics.”

Republicans laugh too

“What a hypocrite,” says de Rothschild. And at the meeting of the company bosses, it was said that there was amusement. “That was 60, 70 percent Republicans at the meeting,” reports Sonnenfeld. “But they don’t want you to be told: ‘Give us your money and shut up.'” For companies with a great need for highly qualified employees, the political environment increasingly plays a role in the choice of location. Restrictions or a racist atmosphere make good workers quit. Even major Hollywood film producers, who do a lot of productions in Georgia, have threatened to shut down. You couldn’t ask African American actors, producers, and team members to work in an atmosphere where they weren’t welcome.