Women’s Advocacy, Civil Rights Coalition Urges LPGA and USGA to Move Upcoming 2017 US Women’s Open From Trump-Owned Golf Course
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 23, 2017
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com | (516) 841-1105
Coalition of Women’s Groups and Civil Rights Advocates Urge LPGA and USGA to Move Upcoming 2017 US Women’s Open From Trump-Owned Golf Course
UltraViolet, Color of Change, Courage Campaign, CREDO, Democracy for America, NARAL Pro-Choice America & Make It Work Pen Letter to the Golf Associations
Over a dozen advocacy organizations have penned a letter urging the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to move the 2017 US Women’s Open out of Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey. The letter will be sent to USGA and LPGA corporate sponsors.
Along with UltraViolet, Color of Change, Courage Campaign, CREDO, Democracy for America, NARAL Pro-Choice America & Make It Work, over 109,000 people have signed onto the following statement:
“Dump Trump! A racist, sexist abuser should not host the most prestigious women’s golf tournament in America.”
SEE THE LETTER HERE: https://s3.amazonaws.
Despite public outcry against the USGA and LPGA for planning to hold its 2017 U.S. Women’s Open Tournament at Donald Trump’s golf resort in Bedminster, NJ, the women’s major championship at Trump National Golf Club is still on as scheduled. The tournament will take place July 13-16.
“Golf is a sport that has long carried a dubious track record of racism, sexism, and discrimination against people with disabilities,” said Shaunna Thomas, Co-founder of UltraViolet. “And Donald Trump ran a presidential campaign on all of those things, with unabashed moments of mistreatment and mockery of women, people of color, and disabled people nearly every step of the way. The USGA and LPGA must send a clear signal to women and men across the country that stands against Trump’s hateful platform and policies. What better way to do that than to move its upcoming US Women’s Open out of Trump National Golf Course? USGA and LPGA: Over 100,000 members of UltraViolet are watching.”
“The USGA and LGPA could host their tournament at any other golf course in the country. Instead, they choose to send a message to everyone who’s being impacted by Trump’s presidency that generating millions in profit for Trump is more important than their lives and the future of our country. With the attempts to defund planned parenthood and the actions taken to tear apart families through deportations, women of color are being hurt the most. It is time that the USGA & LGPA stop holding on to the very racist legacy of the sport and refuse to enable Trump, his Presidency, and his blatant conflicts of interests,” added Brandi Collins, Campaign Director, at Color of Change.
Over the weekend, UltraViolet held a protest and flew a plane banner over the Bank of the Hope Founders Cup, with a message reading, “LPGA: TAKE A MULLIGAN. DUMP SEXIST TRUMP.” As part of the action, UltraViolet members handed out golf balls and golf ball-patterned beach balls that read: “LPGA: Dump Trump.”
In addition, more than 100,000 people have signed onto petitions from UltraViolet and Color of Change calling for the USGA and the LPGA to move the US Women’s Open out of the Trump National Golf Course. The petition notes that by holding the tournament at Trump National Golf Course, the USGA and LPGA are giving millions in revenue, free advertising and branding to Trump, a misogynist, racist and serial sexual predator.
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