President Trump’s decision yesterday to reduce the size of two national monuments in Utah—Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante—was sharply criticized across the internet. Basically, anyone who believes in the conservation of public land and protecting our nation’s monuments thought it was a really terrible idea. Outdoor clothing companies took the opportunity to take a stand against the decision. (Presumably, the customers who buy gear for outdoor activities care about the national parks and monuments they visit.) Patagonia, for instance, posted a blunt message to its homepage: “The President Stole Your Land.”
https://twitter.com/mslopatto/status/937825031848996864?
REI and North Face also posted messages about Trump’s decision on their respective websites, and North Face linked to a Kickstarter fundraiser. But no other company directly called out Trump quite like Patagonia—the company’s CEO has even threatened to sue him. And the internet loved it.
https://twitter.com/mslopatto/status/937825228964499456
This is what's on Patagonia's home page right now. pic.twitter.com/eFAp7lnYTY
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 4, 2017
Thank you, @patagonia, for continued passion to social and environmental justice issues. Let ‘em have it. https://t.co/hNb1OhVVvR
— Loopdie Loo (@scootlefter) December 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/gettinnoticedmo/status/937855212202614784
https://twitter.com/hemeon/status/937932544326098944
One thing is for sure: Patagonia will get a lot of business this holiday season from its customers who care about our public spaces.
https://twitter.com/TopherSpiro/status/937843479807488000
Patagonia deserves to be at the top of everybody's holiday shopping lists after this tweet. https://t.co/ti6HgQDGHT
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) December 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/ptoledo1/status/938056344304783361
But, wait, how are the pro-Trump customers reacting? You can probably guess.
https://twitter.com/jdgmntlgay/status/937906109322530816
Yes, a “boycott” has begun.
https://twitter.com/Byrdz_the_Word/status/937869549688512512
Wow! Thank you, @POTUS , for doing what’s right for the ranchers and farmers and rural landowners of 🇺🇸.
— Debbie Cole (@mamachanga2) December 5, 2017
And @patagonia is 100% out of line. I will never purchase another of your overpriced products.#BoycottPatagonia https://t.co/Gf6BZACYXY
https://twitter.com/staywokeco/status/937874846154940417
https://twitter.com/PC_GoneWild/status/937852044936966147
One more time for the people in the back: if you buy gear for outdoor activities, you should care about the national parks and monuments you visit for those activities.