Several teams and companies in the Carolinas have ended partnerships with CPI security following an email by the CEO of CPI Security that was leaked to the public.
It all stems from a leaked email CPI Security CEO Ken Gill sent to the Executive Director of a local nonprofit. In it, Gill suggests working on police reform is not a productive use of time.
In the email obtained by WCNC Charlotte, CPI Security CEO Kenneth Gill suggests Jorge Millares, with Queen City Unity, “spend time in a more productive way,” and that “a better use of time, would be to focus on the black on black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men.”
Days since the email was leaked to the public, the fallout continues for CPI Security and CEO Ken Gill.
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“When one part of the partnership is not sharing those goals and belief systems, it’s really important to part company with them,” says Corri Smith, the owner of Black Wednesday, a Charlotte-area PR and marketing company.
Gill sent the email to the Executive Director of Queen City Unity, Jorge Millares, who is also a former CPI employee. It was in response to a call to end police brutality.
In the email, he says, “a better use of time would be to focus on the black on black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men.” Several employees walked out as a result.
“I think now companies are more empowered and supported to walk the walk,” Smith said.
Smith says people want to engage with brands they’re aligned with, especially with the current cultural movement.
“Brands are really sort of coming into this place where they know what they believe and now they can be loud about it because their values and their goals are in line with their constituencies and community,” she says.
Click here to view the original publication via WCNC.
