- Huw Hughes
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Vans is the latest in a growing list of fashion brands to boycott
Facebook over concerns it is not doing enough to censor hate speech across
its platforms.
The VF Corporation-owned brand said it has pulled its ad investment from
Facebook and Instagram – which is also owned by Facebook – for the month of
July as part of a #StopHateForProfit Campaign.
The footwear and apparel brand said it will divert its advertising
investment to support Black communities through empowerment and education
programmes, and will “expand its support of racial equality and access
initiatives”. It will also divert the cost of retail store window displays
in the US and Canada in July to “uplift and empower the Black
community”.
“We remain committed to our responsibility to do more in the fight
against racial inequality,” Nick Street, vice president of global
integrated marketing at Vans, said in a statement. “Our decision to join
the #StopHateForProfit campaign demonstrates just one of the ways we are
working diligently, thoughtfully and continuously to becoming anti-racist
in everything we do.”
The brand joins a growing list of fashion brands to pull advertisements
from Facebook, including Patagonia, Levi’s and REI.
Photo credit: Vans
