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ILWU Local 5 @ilwulocal5.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? April 2024: Management removed On Antisemitism from a Jewish American Heritage display without notice or explanation. Two Jewish workers curated the display. When a worker reached out, management referenced customer complaints to explain the choice, claiming that the situation in Gaza and a heightened awareness of antisemitism made the title an inappropriate inclusion in a display on Jewish heritage. Powell’s leadership also banned a book buyer from writing original book blurbs in an employee-only internal newsletter. The buyer in question was reprimanded for their "voice being overly present" in their business books newsletter, and was told that they could only continue posting if they used publisher copy and none of their own writing.

ILWU Local 5 @ilwulocal5.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? August 2024: After initially receiving manager approval, a gift buyer shared a list of gift items intended for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month displays with workers on an internal platform. Powell’s leadership then reversed course on their decision and told the gift buyer they would not be allowed to purchase "Abolish ICE" stickers for the stores and instructed the worker to remove their post.

ILWU Local 5 @ilwulocal5.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

What has Powell’s leadership been doing lately to fight censorship and defend free speech? September 2024: While in the process of curating the gift items to be carried for Native American Heritage Month, Powell’s leadership questioned whether or not a MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) sticker belonged on the display. Powell’s leadership instructed gift buyers to begin "toning down" items they purchase for the stores that contain swear words — without concrete direction as to what specifically should be avoided. Workers were also instructed to de-emphasize these items on displays and fixtures. Some managers took it upon themselves to remove items with swear words from the sales floor entirely.