Summary

REI apologized for endorsing Trump interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum, citing backlash over his support for fossil fuel drilling and deregulation.

CEO Mary Beth Laughton, who took over March 31, called the endorsement “a mistake” and pledged to refocus REI on protecting public lands.

The co-op will lead a new coalition, Brands for Public Lands, to lobby for conservation.

The REI Union, which had criticized the endorsement, praised the retraction. The company also faces legal challenges over alleged anti-union practices and benefits withholding.

  • Jaysyn@lemmy.world
    92·
    30 days ago

    Don’t care. REI is dead to me.

    Shop at Academy instead, they don’t give to any political parties & their employees mostly give to non-Fascist groups.

      • BakerBagel@midwest.social
        519·
        30 days ago

        Academy is iwned by the same Private Equity firm that tanked Toys-R-Us. They are also the only national retailer that sells AR-15’s. Corporations are not your friends. You should not idolize them

        • ElDuderino96@lemmy.worldEnglish
          46·
          29 days ago

          Picking and choosing which retailer you buy your goods from based on their business practices is HARDLY idolizing them.

            • frezik@midwest.social
              7·
              29 days ago

              No legal way out of that one except Form 1 3d printing. It’s from the MAGA shop, the MAGA shop that doesn’t have too many stickers on its wall, or the gun show. Which is also MAGA.

              And even if you print it, you’ll still need to buy a bunch of smaller parts from one of the above, or an online retailer. Which will be MAGA.

              • ProfHillbilly@lemmy.worldB
                3·
                29 days ago

                I know. Where I live it is deep deep MAGA. Overmountain Rifleman is pretty good at appearing neutral but I feel like they keep their MAGA on the downlow. I talk Warhammer stuff with one of the guys that works there.