Motorcycle enthusiasts are revving up their engines in protest against Harley-Davidson, slamming its CEO Jochen Zeitz for pushing a woke agenda. The dispute, started by conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, accused Zeitz of endorsing policies on transgender youth healthcare, critical race theory, climate change, and DEI initiatives.
Starbuck, a vocal 35-year-old political commentator on X, took his grievances public, urging for Zeitz’s ouster. The influencer’s claims suggested that Harley-Davidson, an emblem of rugged American individualism, caved to the demands of the “liberal elite” by integrating a woke spectrum to customers and employees. According to Starbuck, the iconic brand’s new inclusive approach—which he pejoratively labeled as “woke”—included promoting DEI in its workforce and event participation, causing discontent among traditionalists in the biking community.
Starbuck divulged a list of affiliations and activities that have irked the base. “I wonder how many Harley riders are aware that Harley Davidson is a platinum founding member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin.” Starbuck continued, revealing the company’s participation in various LGBTQ+ initiatives, including an event complete with a celebratory cake, which he described with disdain. “Harley Davidson even hosted an LGBTQ+ boot camp at their corporate offices and look at that sweet cake they got them. Isn’t that just so inclusive?” he mockingly joked.
“Jochen Zeitz is an unusual choice to lead Harley-Davidson. He’s German, he’s an outspoken climate activist,” Starbuck said. He also highlighted a controversial element of the company’s training programs, “In Harley’s so-called sustainability report, they also say that their 1800 global employees completed a virtual training to learn what an ally is to the LGBTQ+ community, and that employees also participated in an engaging and interactive learning session that allowed them to explore social identities, both seen and unseen.”
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It’s time to expose Harley Davidson.@harleydavidson has been one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke.
Here’s some of what we found:
• Openly supports “the equality act” which would allow men into girl’s… pic.twitter.com/15kPUy8WVY
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 23, 2024
“They sponsored this LGBTQ+ pride event where they had a rage room. And I am not joking. Something called a rage room to quote, ‘let off steam.’ It was located right next to the story time area for children to interact with drag queens and then play catch with a dad for all those who had daddy issues.”
“So I said that’s weird how much money has Harley given them? Turns out it is millions. Here’s United Way Milwaukee bragging about one of those million dollar donations,” Starbuck continued. “No more CEI scores, no more DEI departments, no more woke trainings, no more donations to woke causes, no more donations to pride parades that parade sexuality to children. Just make motorcycles, period.”
Afterward, Sean Strickland, former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion and a long-time Harley enthusiast, took his protest to X, sharing a video in which he declared his breakup with the brand. Strickland even went further, asking his over 600,000 followers in a follow-up post whether he should sell his Harley or destroy it with a machine gun.
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Starbuck, raised by his mother and grandparents who escaped communist Cuba, shifted his focus to corporate America after discovering woke business practices at Tractor Supply and other companies. His grievances targeted Tractor Supply’s display of pride flags at one of their warehouses, as well as other woke moves. Weeks into Starbuck’s campaign, Tractor Supply decided to discontinue its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and abandon its carbon emission targets.
Starbuck’s rallying cry resonated, seen by many enthusiasts who told him upon arriving in South Dakota on his 2003 100th anniversary pre-woke edition Electra Glide.
I rolled into South Dakota on my 2003 100th anniversary pre woke edition Electra glide headed to play my 15th year @SturgisRally today and everyone I’ve talked to already knows! I heard HD Sturgis HQ is gonna be like Bud Light tent was last year! I’ll be telling folks at shows
— CECIL ALLEN MOORE (@CECILALLENMOORE) August 1, 2024
Exactly
— Jim Wadkins (@jpwadkins) August 1, 2024
For days now HD has been hiding post, I noticed today they are limiting who can post. @harleydavison is starting to take notice.
— Moralcompass (@Moralco61898803) July 31, 2024
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