"On this day after the memorial service for George Floyd, who was murdered in a senseless act of violence, we are reminded yet again of the injustice, discrimination and inequality that continue to exist in our communities. We say the names George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many more and we know that the list of those killed is far too long. The pain we have witnessed in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, as well as around the world, is a call to action and we need to do our part. At International Dairy Queen, I know there is more we can learn and more we can do to advocate for human rights and to fight injustice, inequality, racism and discrimination. Our team doesn’t have all the answers; however, we are committed to spend more time learning, listening and understanding to implement meaningful change. We commit to the following actions. We are making a significant donation to support the NAACP in its efforts to fight injustice, inequality, racism and discrimination and we are making donations to neighborhood organizations that support rebuilding the small businesses affected by recent events–many of which are minority-owned and serve low-income communities. We will implement a comprehensive diversity training program to help our leaders and employees better understand, identify and counteract racism, inequality and discrimination in the workplace and in the community. We also will make educational resources available to franchisees that they can use in the training and development of their own managers and teams. We will make diversity and inclusion a greater focus of our business and culture, including within our pursuit of diverse candidates for our team as well as within our vendor, supplier and franchisee communities. We know we have a long way to go. These are first steps and we will continue to do more in the years ahead. As I reflect upon George Floyd’s memorial service, I think of a man who should still be with us today. I also think about how privileges and opportunities that should be equally available to and achievable by all, still are not, and that the color of one’s skin remains one of the most significant barriers to access. This must change. We have a lot of work to do to bridge the gaps that still exist in our communities, and the responsibility lies with each and every one of us. We are committed to making a meaningful difference for all who touch DQ. Troy Bader President CEO International Dairy Queen I’m just going to leave this here. Since YALL need a refresher on diversity and not being racist. https bit.ly/3dDRsJU"
