Merrell is the next brand to stop all of its advertising on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July in support of #StopHateForProfit.
The brand wrote on its website: ”At Merrell, we believe in the simple power of the outside. No matter who you are, where you came from, who you love or how you move – everyone should be welcome in the outdoors and wherever life takes us. How can everyone feel welcomed in the outdoors when they don’t feel safe moving through their everyday lives? How can you feel like you belong in this world when you’re consistently reading hateful, racist and violent messages on your social feeds? How can positive change happen through our political systems when all voices are not represented through our fundamental right to vote?“
Stopping advertising on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July has become a growing protest among the industry – outdoor, sports and other consumer goods segments – to urge Facebook to take action to rid the hate speech, methods of voter suppression, and misinformation being spread on their platforms.
Merrell had already openly committed to making justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion a key strategic pillar within the company‘s business in 2018, doing “our part to bring us all together through the awesome power of the outdoors.” Along with a $25,000 donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the brand is also matching its team members’ donations to organizations that are Black-led and support the Black community, including the Black Lives Matter Global Network.
