Alabama attorney general joins others in wanting Costco to drop its DEI policies

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is one of 19 attorneys general nationwide wanting Costco to drop its policies on diversity, equity and inclusion.

CBS News reports that in a letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris, the attorneys general say Costco is “clinging to DEI policies that courts and businesses have rejected as illegal,” and called on the company to account for the legal risks of its actions.

Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, the 19 Republican officials instructed Costco to let them know within 30 days whether it would get rid of its DEI policies or explain why not.

Costco did not immediately respond to a CBS News request for comment.

The letter came after Costco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that it should evaluate any risks associated to its DEI practices. The shareholder behind the proposal, the National Center for Public Policy Research, argued that DEI “may sound benign,” but in fact is “weaponized language concealing a radical Marxist agenda.”

According to preliminary results shared by Costco executives at its annual meeting Thursday, more than 98% of shares voted against the proposal.

Costco’s stance contrasts with the positions other big consumer companies have taken.

READ: Letter from 19 Attorneys General to Costco

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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