WASHINGTON — Ahead of the Beijing 2022 Closing Ceremony, a diverse coalition of human rights groups and bipartisan organizations representing U.S. industry and workers issued a joint statement condemning America’s largest corporations for sponsoring the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in China. Despite international calls from human rights advocates, governments of democratic nations, and ample evidence that the Chinese government and Communist Party is committing systemic, egregious human rights abuses and genocide, the Olympic Games in China moved forward this month.
The following organizations issued the joint statement below: Athenai Institute, Peace Catalyst International, Jewish Movement for Uyghur Freedom, Silk Road Peace Project, Hong Kong Watch, George Washington University Committee to Divest from the Uyghur Genocide, Campaign For Uyghurs, Hong Kong Democracy Council, Coalition for a Prosperous America, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Jewish World Watch, No Business With Genocide, Visual Artists Guild, Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee, United Macedonian Diaspora, American Alliance for Automotive Corporate Social Responsibility, Uyghur Human Rights Project, China Aid Association, Uyghur American Association, International Tibet Network, Humanitarian China , China Against the Death Penalty, Citizen Power Initiatives for China, and World Uyghur Congress.
“For too long, multinational corporations have willingly turned a blind eye to China’s myriad atrocities, putting profits over principle as the CCP undermines the rule of law and commits human rights abuses and genocide. Well-known companies such as Apple, BMW, Gap, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen have been complicit in profiting from relationships with suppliers and government agencies implementing a massive forced labor program for Uyghurs.
“Despite international condemnation of China’s actions, Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Intel, Visa, and Procter & Gamble have each committed roughly $100 million to sponsor the Winter Games, an expense they justify as a massive, global advertising opportunity. In reality, by sponsoring China’s genocide games, these multinational corporations are essentially handing hundreds of millions of dollars to China’s repressive regime — with no questions asked.
“Similarly, Wall Street has profited enormously by helping the CCP exploit U.S. capital markets and tens of millions of American investors. By funneling U.S. investment to China, companies like BlackRock and MSCI aiding and abetting companies that are complicit in the CCP’s human rights abuses and genocide. All of these investments give Beijing ample funding to continue its surveillance, repression, and genocide of Uyghurs; undermine and degrade internationally recognized human rights throughout the country; destroy the culture and freedoms of Tibet; undermine the society of Hong Kong; and more.
“Allowing the genocide games to move forward in China was a serious mistake, but it is not too late to speak up and hold accountable those who wrongly allowed Beijing to hold them. Multinational corporations that claim to support democratic values and the ideals of which the United States was founded on should not be supporting China’s human rights violations.”
