Giant Eagle takes steps 'to stand up against racism and social injustice' - TribLIVE

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The Giant Eagle supermarket chain has announced several measures intended “to stand up against racism and social injustice.”

Among the moves announced were:

• A $350,000 contribution to support social justice causes;

• The closure of its Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo locations this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. to discuss racial issues;

• A halt in advertising in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and in selling the newspaper in its stores “due to recent actions by the publication.”

The effort was released in a Facebook post released late Wednesday night attributed to Laura Shapira Karet, president and CEO of Giant Eagle Inc. The post was soon reinforced by additional details released by company spokesman Dick Roberts.

“It is impossible to understand all the senseless deaths of African Americans, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and too many others whose stories have been pulled into the national spotlight, as well as the countless victims whose stories go untold,” the Giant Eagle post bearing Karet’s name begins. “We at Giant Eagle have taken time to self-reflect on what we as individuals and as an organization must do to stand up against racism and social injustice. Words are important, but they are not nearly enough. The time for action is now.”

The company said it hopes “to support our African American Team Members, guests and neighbors.”

The company said Saturday’s hourlong session is intended to “begin to engage our Team Members in a discussion about our personal experiences and what steps can be taken to affect change in ourselves and in our communities.”

In announcing its suspension of the sale of the Post-Gazette, Giant Eagle said it “takes seriously its responsibility to provide guests access to important news and information through partnerships with local and national media publications.

“However, it is critical that the company upholds the values that has defined it for nearly 90 years. Due to recent actions by management at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Giant Eagle has made the decision to temporarily halt all advertising with the Post-Gazette, and to discontinue single copy sales in its Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo locations.

“These measures will remain in place until the publication demonstrates an equal commitment to all those in the communities it serves.”

In closing the company’s statement, Karet wrote, “We must take every opportunity to put ourselves in each other’s shoes. We will slip up. We will make mistakes. But as long as we are open, honest and sincerely listen to one another, we will make positive, long-lasting change.”

An email sent Wednesday night to PG Executive Editor Keith Burris was not immediately returned. Burris wrote a lengthy explanation of the newspapers actions that appeared online Wednesday morning.

PG General Manager Tracey DeAngelo was briefly reached by phone late Wednesday and deferred questions to Thursday.

Michael Fuoco, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents most newsroom employees at the PG, said he’s not surprised at Giant Eagle or any advertiser’s actions.

“We understand that advertisers and readers don’t want to be associated with a newspaper that refuses to stop its systemic racism at a time when the entire country is reckoning with the issue,” Fuoco said.

The newspaper has been roundly criticized, including in national publications, for according to the Guild, banning reporter a black reporter from continuing to cover protests for the paper after a tweet that PG management deemed to be biased.

A black photographer was pulled off an assignment to cover protests in Pittsburgh on Saturday, according to the Guild, and other actions were taken against numerous other staffers who voiced their support.

Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Giant Eagle takes steps 'to stand up against racism and social injustice' - TribLIVE

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