A letter to Ford CEO Jim Hackett and Chairman Bill Ford asked the company to take action by July 15.
Ford's black employees urged the American car manufacturer to stop producing police cars following the numerous Black Lives Matter protests happening across the United States and in other countries.
Based on a Jalopnik report published Wednesday, July 8, a group of workers sent a letter to letter to Ford CEO Jim Hackett and Chairman Bill Ford asking the company "to cease development, production, and sale of all custom police vehicles and products."
An Atlanta Police Department officer is seen in front of his vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 18, 2020.
The letter also suggested to divert the company's resources to other forms of first response and public safety. The group is also calling for action by July 15.
While the employees commended Hackett and Ford for their position against "superficial actions," they urge the company to take real action to tackle its role in perpetuating racism in society. This follows the company statement about their commitment to "lead from the front" and create a fair and inclusive culture for its employees.
According to Jalopnik's sources, the letter came from Ford's African-Ancestry Network. Founded in 1994, Ford's website states that FAAN is the company's first employee resource group that promotes workplace diversity at Ford.
"Throughout history, the vehicles that Ford employees design and build have been used as accessories to police brutality and oppression," the employees wrote in the letter.
The group also said that while many have good intentions in joining, supporting, and supplying the police force, these racist police practices that hound the society "are historic and systemic." The letter also noted that Ford has preserved such history and system for over 70 years since it introduced the policy package in 1950.
The employees added that as the company played important part of that history and system, it should rethink and act differently its role in racism.
The issues on police credibility have nothing to do with the vehicles they drive
Numerous videos have shown the police driving Ford Police Interceptors into crowds of protestors at various protest events across the U.S.
Seattle Police vehicles are moved to garages, as barricades are seen at rear, at the Seattle Police Department's West Precinct in Seattle, Washington, U.S. June 10, 2020.
Vehicle from other automakers has been used for a similar function, but the Dearborn, Michigan-based manufacturer supplies the majority of police vehicles in the U.S. However, sales from Police Interceptors only make up a small portion of Ford's overall revenue.
While Ford has not yet issued a comment, Hackett was quick to respond. Hackett said in an internal memo obtained by Jalopnik that there is nothing controversial for the Ford Police Interceptor to help officers do their job. He also said police credibility issues "have nothing to do with the vehicles they're driving."
"By taking away our Police Interceptors, we would be doing harm to their safety and making it harder for them to do their job," Hackett wrote in the memo.
He also mentioned that he believes these incidents give Ford greater opportunities to find new solutions as well as to leverage their position supporting the dialogue and reforms needed to build safer communities for everyone.
