Ford employees have
raised concerns regarding the company which has continued to make and sell
police vehicles. In response, Ford CEO Jim Hackett has argued that he doesn’t
find this arrangement controversial. He doesn’t believe that it’s “controversial that the Ford Police
Interceptor helps officers do their job.”

Of course, the question
was raised after the national movement for racial justice. Police were heavily
targeted during this movement and rightly so because police brutality is a
common phenomenon that people of color regularly grapple with. The movement
existed prior to George Floyd’s killing but his death simply catalyzed
everything.

It is common knowledge
that Ford doesn’t attain large chunks of revenue from the selling and making of law enforcement vehicles. However, it can’t be denied that the protests
have forced companies to rethink their relationship with police.

Some employees have
taken this issue seriously and have urged the company to sign the letter that
discourages the business with law enforcement.

“Our
resources can and should be diverted to other forms of first response and
public safety.” – The employees wrote.

If you followed the
events during and after the protests, you’d now be aware that the tech
companies experienced the most damage. Nextdoor, for example, had to stop a
program that permitted users to forward and share ports to law enforcement.
Even Amazon has to stop police officers from using its facial recognition
technology for a year. Microsoft followed suit.

The latest news is
that Ford employees can stop the partnership with the police.

“We
cannot claim to support the fight against systemic racism while supplying and
supporting the very systems that perpetrate violence against Black Americans. Throughout
our history, the vehicles that Ford employees design and build have been used
as accessories to police brutality and oppression. We know that while many
join, support, or supply law enforcement with good intentions, these racist
policing practices that plague our society are historic and systemic — a
history and system perpetuated by Ford for over 70 years — ever since Ford
introduced the first-ever police package in 1950. As an undeniable part of that
history and system, we are long overdue to “think and act differently” on our
role in racism.”

Hackett has continued to defend the company’s
business with the police, and has argued that Ford’s police cars, trucks and SUVs are responsible for making police officers “safer and more accountable.”

Hackett wrote: “Again, this is why, given our insights, new
capabilities and leadership, I believe these unfortunate circumstances present
Ford with an even greater opportunity to not only innovate new solutions but
also leverage our unique position to support the dialogue and reform needed to
create safer communities for all.”

“I
do appreciate people speaking their mind to me on this issue – it helped me
generate this note to explain why we are continuing our commitment to police
forces all over the world in our trusted products.”
– He added.