Civil rights group's president 'dismayed' by Walmart decision to cut DEI

One of the nation’s leading civil rights groups is condemning Walmart’s recent decision to end its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Marc Morial, CEO and president of the National Urban League, told "CBS Mornings" he is “dismayed by this decision.”

“I think what they did is succumb to a smear campaign, to threats, to bullying and to backmail by a handful of extremists," Morial said.

He added that he has communicated to Walmart leaders to discuss the changes in an effort to understand the reasoning behind the decision before the National Urban League and other members of the civil rights community take their own steps in response.

Walmart’s changes will include ending funding to the Center for Racial Equity, a nonprofit it launched in 2020 as a five-year initiative. It will no longer use terms "LatinX" and "DEI" in official communications and will remove transgender products from third-party merchants marketed toward children from its online marketplace.

The company will also no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, which rates businesses on their policies for LGBTQ employees.

Walmart U.S. CEO and President John Furner told "CBS Mornings" that the company’s rollbacks are made in an effort to ensure everyone feels they “belong.”

"Like many companies all across the U.S., we've been on a journey," Furner said. "We'll continue to be on a journey. And what we're trying to do is to ensure every customer, every associate feels welcomed here in the shop and to feel like they belong."

But Morial condemned the corporation for making the changes without the consultation of stakeholders including the National Urban League, which has been a partner of the superstore for two decades.

“They went from worst to first class when it comes to diversity,” Morial said. “The idea that they would throw all of that away without any careful consultation with their partners, without any real serious evaluation of the success of these programs, is what dismays me.”

Morial said that it appears the company has spoken with those who oppose DEI and therefore it is only appropriate for it also to speak with those who support such initiatives.

“This is a moment that is so important for this country,” Morial said. “We cannot throw away the progress we’ve made.”

Walmart becomes the latest in a line of corporations to rollback DEI initiatives, following in the footsteps of Harley-Davidson, John Deere and Tractor Supply.

The rollbacks come as conservative activist Robby Starbuck has led multiple campaigns urging companies to end their DEI initiatives or risk some form of exposure from him.

“Our campaigns are now so effective that we’re getting the biggest companies on earth to change their policies without me even posting a story outlining their woke policies," Starbuck wrote on social platform X. "Companies can clearly see that America wants normalcy back. The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality. We are now the trend, not the anomaly. We are winning and one by one we WILL bring sanity back to corporate America."

But Morial said Wednesday business leaders need to stand for American values moving forward.

“One value of this nation is equal opportunity,” Morial said. “That’s all equity, diversity and inclusion is about. It’s about creating a level playing field for all.”

He added that DEI has been “smeared” by a “hate mob.”

“Diversity, equity and inclusion were a set of terms designed to create a positive, if you will, image and a positive conversation about an America for all, an America that is open to all,” he said.

“DEI does not favor, it opens doors that have historically been closed,” Morial added.