(PresidentialWire.com)- In May, writer Christopher Rufo published documents of a “White Men’s Caucus” training session conducted by the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin where white male executives gathered via Zoom to learn about their “privilege.”
This “White Men’s Caucus” was the latest in a long line of critical race theory-based “training” programs conducted by both major American corporations and within the Federal Government.
The 3-day Zoom event was conducted by a consulting firm called White Men As Full Diversity Partners and included a “free association” session where the white men in attendance listed words they associated with the term “white men.” Among the words they chose were “racist,” “Aryan Nation,” “KKK,” “anti-women,” and “angry.”
Now Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton wants answers from the aerospace giant.
In a letter to Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet, Cotton wrote that this “White Men’s Caucus” appears to “violate the principles of equal treatment” which Cotton calls “the bedrock of American law.”
Cotton cites Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which forbids employers from discriminating based on race or engaging in activities that “limit, segregate, or classify employees.”
In his letter Cotton also cited the Trump Administration’s order to end Critical Race Theory training, in which it stated that the “stereotyping and scapegoating” most often found in these trainings “may contribute to a hostile work environment” while leaving employers potentially liable under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Among the participants at “White Men’s Caucus” were many of Lockheed Martin’s heavy hitters – including the VP of Production for the USAF $1.7 Trillion F-35 fighter jet program Glenn David Woods.
Also included in the group of berated white males were the director of global supply chain operations Aaron Huckaby; the director of the Hercules C-130 transport aircraft program retired AF Lt Col David Starr; and the VP of sustainment operations retired AF Lt Gen Bruce Litchfield.
In his letter Senator Cotton demanded to know how many Lockheed Martin executives participated in “White Men’s Caucus.” He also wanted an understanding of how the participants were selected and whether their participation was mandatory. Additionally, Cotton asked Taiclet to explain why this “White Men’s Caucus” would not be considered discriminatory.
Shortly after Rufo published the Lockheed Martin documents, a spokesman for the aerospace and defense giant responded in a statement saying Lockheed Martin has “robust employee training programs” which the spokesman described as focusing on “our core values” of doing what’s right, showing respect and “performing with excellence.”
It seems odd that forcing white male employees to recite such statements as “I can have friendships with or work around children without being accused of recruiting or molesting them” would be considered a “core value” to Lockheed Martin.
