Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is trying to pull itself out of the hole it finds itself in after implementing company policies that are decidedly anti-conservative. On Monday, an employee leaked information revealing that the company created rules designed to promote the Black Lives Matter movement while prohibiting mention of right-leaning political views. 

The employee released a screenshot of a slide that was displayed during diversity training showing what types of political expression is permissible in the workplace. The policy deemed statements promoting Black Lives Matter or “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride,” were acceptable. However, All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, MAGA attire, or other material supporting conservatism were out of bounds.

As you can already imagine, the leaking of the screenshot elicited a major backlash from the right. Conservative influencers lambasted the company, calling for a boycott. On Wednesday, the company released a statement on Twitter explaining their new policy.

Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company. Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. pic.twitter.com/oO6jUg2rTR

— Goodyear (@goodyear) August 19, 2020

“Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company,” the statement began. The company then explained that “the visual in question was not created or distributed by Goodyear corporate, nor was it part of a diversity training class.”

The statement also insisted, “To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equality issues.”

Goodyear concluded the statement by affirming its support for law enforcement. “Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so,” it asserted. “These are not mutually exclusive. We have heard from some of you that believe Goodyear is anti-police after reacting to the visual. Nothing could be further from the truth, and we have the upmost appreciation for the vital work police do on behalf of our shared communities. This can’t be said strongly enough.”

Of course, this statement fails to answer the obvious questions. If “the visual in question” was not created by the company, then why was it there? Why was the employee able to leak the screenshot? If the company wants its employees to “refrain from workplace expression in support of political campaigning” why did this slide even exist? 

In fact, the employee who took the screenshot told reporters that the slide was part of a presentation that came from Goodyear’s corporate office in Ohio. So who’s telling the truth? Given the trend of corporations going woke, it’s not a stretch to think that the tire company would implement these type of rules.

Of course, a company can implement any policy it wishes, as long as it does not break laws. However, Goodyear’s right to function as it sees fit does not negate the right of consumers to criticize its practices or to speak through their wallets.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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