Patagonia condemns US Capitol raid
The CEO of outdoor brand Patagonia has released a statement condemning protesters who invaded the US government building the day Congress was meeting to confirm Joe Biden's election victory. Five were killed in the riot.
Ryan Gellert said: “Patagonia condemns the assault on the US Capitol and all recent attempts to disrupt a peaceful transition of presidential power. We are also appalled by the double standard between the response to last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests and Wednesday’s insurrection.
“We support leaders from around the country who are calling for the president and his enablers to be removed from office immediately. We are committed, as ever, to doing our part to support our democracy and to ensure that it is equitable and accessible for everyone.”
Patagonia is known for using its voice to condemn politics that it does not agree with, or to support initiatives that it does. It has previously spoken out against President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, against reports of forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region and against systemic racism. In 2017 it took court action when Trump removed protection for two million acres of public land in the US.
