In the United States, major financial institutions, such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, are under increasing pressure from anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activists. Some organizations, for example, the National Center for Public Policy Research, have filed proposals for shareholders to abolish DEI initiatives because they promote discrimination against religious and political beliefs.
Activists will argue that DEI policies improperly prioritize a certain group of people and potentially leave banks open to lawsuits. The proposals will be executed in the annual meetings during spring, although these motions had been rejected equally by the shareholders in years past.
The development comes as the role of corporations in the social problems debate is getting more attention. Some view DEI initiatives as imperative to achieving inclusiveness; others view them as politically divisive. The decisions on such motions could shape corporate policies across the nation.