Atlanta Falcons team owner Arthur Blank said he is «opposed» to efforts to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in several states.
Blank, the 80-year-old co-founder of Home Depot, donated $17 million to an Atlanta civil rights museum in 2021 and called for addressing the «underlying issues» causing «systemic racism» in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd riots in Minnesota.
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Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank looks on before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 25, 2022 in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
He said Tuesday at NFL owners’ meetings that DEI initiatives should be a top priority in the country.
«The notion of pluralism and acceptance of everyone based on who they are and what they are and what they can do and so on, that should be the top priority for our nation,» Blank said, via The Athletic. «And certainly in terms of job placement, job opportunities, things of that nature. So, politically or socially, I would not be in favor» (of rolling back DEI’s efforts).
Added Blank: «DEI covers us all, whether you’re white or black or Hispanic, or whatever you are. So I would be very much opposed to that. And you know, I mean reduce.»
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the field during the fourth quarter of a game against the Los Angles Chargers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 6, 2022 in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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The NFL’s DEI report released last week said, «The hiring process for team leaders still needs to evolve, as do the thought process and evaluation criteria of many hiring managers: The best results need to flow from improved processes».
«Simply put, it is imperative to educate, enlighten, encourage, and empower equipment owners and other key decision makers to change personal perspectives, perceptions, preferences, priorities, and processes,» the report says.
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The league has reportedly agreed to policies recommending that each franchise hire outside DEI consultants and each club must have a DEI chief executive.
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White space is on the NFL DEI committee.