Nike CEO Criticizes Executive Order Banning Some From Entering U.S.
January 29 2017 - 09:05PM
Dow Jones News
By Sara Germano
Nike Inc. (NKE) Chief Executive Mark Parker condemned a travel
ban issued by President Donald Trump, a rare political statement
from the world's largest sportswear maker.
In an email to employees sent late Sunday, Mr. Parker wrote that
the executive order barring entry to visitors from seven
Muslim-majority countries contrasts with the company's value of
diversity.
"This is a policy we don't support," he wrote, according to a
copy of the message reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. "Nike
stands together against bigotry and any form of
discrimination."
The letter from Mr. Parker, 61, didn't mention President Donald
Trump by name. It was a rare internal communication from the CEO on
political matters, according to people familiar with the
matter.
President Donald Trump late Friday suspended the entire U.S.
refugee program for four months and banned for 90 days entry into
the U.S. of nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria
and Yemen.
Mr. Parker acknowledged four-time Olympic gold medalist Mo
Farah, a Nike-sponsored athlete who was born in Somalia but has
British citizenship and resides with his family in Portland, Ore.,
near Nike's campus. Mr. Farah, who is currently training overseas
away from his wife and four children, posted a statement on
Facebook early Sunday condemning the travel ban. It remains unclear
what, if any, challenges Mr. Farah may face in returning to the
U.S.
A Nike spokesman declined to comment on how many, if any,
employees are affected by the travel restrictions.
Mr. Parker previously hosted former President Barack Obama to
the company's Beaverton campus in 2015 as part of Mr. Obama's
efforts to advance the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade
agreement. Mr. Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the pact last
week.
Write to Sara Germano at sara.germano@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 29, 2017 20:50 ET (01:50 GMT)
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