The Trail Ahead

#StopHateForProfit. We’re standing in solidarity with the Anti-Defamation League® (ADL), Color of Change, NAACP and many others working to be change agents to create a more equitable and inclusive tomorrow. We’re stopping all advertising on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July in order to help drive the urgent need for Facebook to take action to rid the hate speech, methods of voter suppression, and misinformation being spread on their platforms. Learn more at StopHateForProfit.org.

At Merrell, we believe in the simple power of the outside. No matter who you are, where you came from, who you love or how you move – everyone should be welcome in the outdoors and wherever life takes us. How can everyone feel welcomed in the outdoors when they don’t feel safe moving through their everyday lives? How can you feel like you belong in this world when you’re consistently reading hateful, racist and violent messages on your social feeds? How can positive change happen through our political systems when all voices are not represented through our fundamental right to vote?

Stopping our paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July is one small step we’re taking to build a better tomorrow. We’re committed to The Trail Ahead and how we can do our part to bring us all together through the awesome power of the outdoors.

In 2018 we committed to making justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion a key strategic pillar within our business. On this journey, we’ve continued to learn, grow, and act, but we know we’re at the beginning of this trail.

We’re committed to driving change. And to drive real change it takes more than words – it takes action. We also know the change we want will take time, so we’re establishing a recurring donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund immediately for the next year, in the amount of $25,000.

Along with our donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, we’re matching our team members' donations to organizations that are Black-led and support the Black community. We want to thank our team as many have already donated to organizations including: Campaign Zero, Buy From a Black Woman, GirlTrek, Detroit Justice Center, Soul Trak Outdoors, and the Black Lives Matter Global Network. We’ll continue to keep you updated on our efforts and progress as we remain dedicated to listening and learning.

We’re also building a long-term plan to positively impact the outdoor industry and will work with and fund those advocating for systemic change and racial justice for the Black community. We’ll keep you informed as these plans start to unfold and will share more within the next few months. We have a long way to go, but won’t stop trying. Because Black Lives Matter. #blacklivesmatter #onetrail