Amazon Criticized After Putting Out Statement About Protests

Amazon joined several other companies over the weekend in tweeting out its support for the Black community as protests continue across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

However, many people have criticized the retail giant’s statement considering the company’s relationship with law enforcement and recent treatment of a Black man who organized a walkout at a fulfillment center over its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, Amazon tweeted that “the inequitable and brutal treatment of Black people in our country must stop,” adding that it stood “in solidarity with the Black community.”

“The inequitable and brutal treatment of Black people in our country must stop. Together we stand in solidarity with the Black community—our employees, customers and partners—in the fight against systemic racism and injustice,” Amazon tweeted.

The statement was met with quite a bit of criticism.

Several people pointed out that Amazon has partnered with law enforcement with its Ring doorbells and its facial recognition technology Rekognition.

Facial recognition technology has been found to have a racial bias.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also called out Amazon’s facial recognition technology and its use by law enforcement.

Others found the statement tone-deaf considering its firing of Chris Smalls, a fulfillment center worker who organized a strike in Staten Island over the company’s response to the pandemic. Amazon told CNBC at the time that Smalls was fired after receiving “several warnings” for violating social distancing guidelines.

Notes from a meeting about Smalls were leaked and published by Vice. They show that leadership discussed ways to smear Smalls by calling him “not smart or articulate” and how to make him “the face of the entire union/organizing movement.”

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