We, the undersigned, call on Fred Meyer, QFC, and all Kroger-owned stores to respect workers’ right to wear “Black Lives Matter” insignia at work.

We further call on Kroger executives to meet with Black workers and community leaders to address the ongoing racism faced by Black workers and customers at the company’s stores.

While Kroger has issued public statements and social media posts about their commitment to racial equity as the movement for Black lives continues, the company has hypocritically banned workers at Kroger-owned stores from honoring the fight for racial justice and showing solidarity with each other and their customers by wearing Black Lives Matter masks and buttons.

The Black Lives Matter message has become synonymous with the pursuit of racial justice within all institutions of our society. And as Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen himself said in a recent video message, “We cannot remain silent. We must use our voice to express that we’re against racism and injustice toward the Black community.”

Mr. McMullen, we demand that you stop silencing your employees who are using their voice to express their opposition to racism and injustice toward the Black community.