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“Trump has shown us who he is, and that he doesn’t care
about 3,300 people with good jobs who take pride in their
work. Trump is putting people’s livelihood at risk with his
tweet, but Ohioans won’t fall for this. Vice President Biden
and Senator Harris will bring back better, support union
workers and manufacturing, and increase minimum wage to
$15.00 hourly,” said Brown during his opening remarks. “Joe
Biden is also about dignity of the work. The real theme is
to show who is on the side of workers, and show contrast
between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
Senator Brown is referencing the conflict between President
Donald Trump and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company that began
when Trump responded to an employee training held at a
Topeka, Kansas location. The August 18 report included a
visual presentation of “unacceptable” work-attire clothing
that displayed MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats which
are linked to President Donald Trump’s campaign, while also
noting that Black Lives Matter and LBGTQ (lesbian,
bi-sexual, gay, transgender and questioning) pride-related
items as acceptable.
Immediately following the media report, the Official Donald
Trump twitter account, called realDonaldTrump, posted this
in response, “Don’t buy Goodyear Tires. They announced a ban
on MAGA hats. Get your tires for far less! This is what the
radical left democrats do. Two can play the same game, and
we have to start playing it now.”
The president held a press conference to clarify the tweet
that was viewed by his 85 million followers. “I’m not happy
with Goodyear because they are playing politics. I can
guarantee that I poll very well with those great workers at
Goodyear. When they say that you can’t have Blue Lives
Matter, can’t wear a MAGA hat, but you can have other things
that are Marxist in nature. There is something wrong with
the top of Goodyear and what the radical left does. They
make it difficult for people to do business if they are
republican or conservative. They put out all sorts of
efforts, don’t shop there. They are no different than what
you saw on the streets of Portland two nights ago. If they
want to hold political speeches, they are just using their
power over people, these people who want to wear whatever it
is that we are talking about. I would be in favor if people
don’t want to buy there anymore. I think it’s disgraceful
that they did this.”
Representative Sykes, during the August 25 press call,
shared her positive experiences in Akron. “Generations ago
we left the segregated south for a better life and travelled
to Akron. My father, sister and I all went to college. Akron
is and was Goodyear and impacts the world. I am looking
forward to supporting my community by supporting Biden,”
said Sykes.
In response to the president’s press conference and later
the press conference by White House Press Secretary Kayleigh
McEnany, Goodyear’s CEO issued a statement that banned
political endorsements within the company but clarified the
company’s support for law enforcement. “By now, you are
aware of the visual from our Topeka factory that has been
circulating in the media, and I want to personally clear the
record on what you are seeing and hearing. The slide in
question was created by a plant employee to try to explain
what is acceptable to wear in the workplace. The slide was
not approved or distributed by Goodyear Corporate or anyone
outside of that facility. I deeply regret the impression it
has created and wanted to clarify Goodyear’s position,”
explained Rich Kramer.
“We’re fired up. It’s not just about the comments. When you
attack Goodyear, you attack Akron. We need to stand unified.
Can’t image anyone saying the words that Trump did and still
support workers,” stated Dan Horrigan, Akron’s mayor during
the press call.
“Trump’s attack is nothing new. He doesn’t care about the
working man or woman, especially after his tweet. I’m sure
some voted for Trump in 2016, hopefully they will see the
light and know he’s not on our side but Biden is on our
side,” said Jack Hefner, Steelworkers Local 2 president
during the press call.
Media outlets reports and social media posts in general
demonstrated how divided Americans were between supporting
Trump or the employees of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
In response, the Akron factory held a rally. The following
week, according to Cleveland’s local media, Ohio’s Governor
Mike DeWine doesn’t support the boycott. “Look, we should
not boycott this good company. They have Ohio workers who
are doing a good job and making a good product.”
According to the company’s website, Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company was founded in 1898 when Frank Seiberling borrowed
$3,500 to open the first factory in Akron, Ohio. The company
has 66,000 associates in 48 facilities in 21 countries
around the world.
“Akron’s 20,000 jobs were attacked by Trump. He’s the
divider-in-chief. Summit County citizens need someone who
grew up in an area like ours, like Scranton, Pennsylvania,”
said Representative Tim Ryan during the press call. “Donald
Trump’s actions demonstrate that he doesn’t understand our
challenges and struggles, because if he did, he won’t
encourage a boycott. 90 million followers saw that tweet,”
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