BB Protest Mass Layoffs

On a quest to make Best Buddies' staff be treated more fairly and for Anthony Shriver to cut his salary in the wake of COVID 19 instead of laying everyone off.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

And just like that, #BestBuddies is laying off its staff again. No notice, no transparency. @AnthonyKShriver, have you taken a pay cut to protect your so-called "family"?

[Save Best Buddies @SaveBBStaff]

And, @AnthonyKShriver, let us not forget when you made the organization partner with Chris Brown after we were all aware of his history of abusing women. Triggering for staff, participants, etc. https://t.co/tPQULzxs2a

[Save Best Buddies @SaveBBStaff]

. @AnthonyKShriver Remember in 2008 when the Black Eyed Peas performed at Hearst Castle Challenge and they sang the words "Let's get ret*rded" at your event to support enhancing the lives of ppl with IDD? No? Here, thankfully someone caught it on video: https://t.co/7JZQro6H11

[Save Best Buddies @SaveBBStaff]

Hey @TomBrady @jaytatum0 @BostonGlobe @MiamiHerald @nytimes is this the kind of leader you want to support? He refuses to utter the words #blacklivesmatter. He refuses to listen to staff who are begging to be heard around racial justice issues in the org. He has to go. Help us.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

You think you are underpaid for the many hours you put in? Be grateful for small “perks” like days off and a cruise. You speak out against racism at Best Buddies? You’re on the layoff list. You think the CEO should take a pay cut before laying off his staff? You're welcome to go

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

.@AnthonyKShriver @bestbuddies and the thing is. Not showing clear, unequivocal support for your Black staff and participants...and laying off tons of your staff in a video on a Friday evening (and THEN week after week like the Hunger Games)...are two sides of the same coin.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

The underlying message: That your staff are disposable. That they must be squeezed for every last fundraising dollar they can muster, that they must work overtime to drive the mission at the risk of not seeming dedicated enough, and that they must never complain about anything.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

5. “All of you who are listening to this video, your lives matter” = All Lives Matter. This is NOT helpful to the movement—google it!!! Despite 130 staff members asking, you still won’t say #BlackLivesMatter and that is a disgrace.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

And for those who would defend @AnthonyKShriver at any cost, and who don’t understand why these videos are offensive, let me spell it out for you. Pt 2. #BestBuddiesSpeaksOut

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

4. Referring to your good friend and colleague as “a…homosexual” demonstrates that you have spent absolutely no time learning about how to be a better ally.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

3. Pointing to hiring black people, women, and gay people as proof that you are committed to diversity and inclusion is a TEXTBOOK example of White fragility. Google it.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

2. Suggesting that Bobby Kennedy or @AnthonyKShriver have done MORE for the Civil Rights movement and the disenfranchised is not only false, it is harmful!!! It ignores the work that generations of BIPOC have done in these areas LONG before Bobby or Anthony were born.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

1. Being born into the Kennedy family is NOT proof that you are absolved from racism, nor is it proof that @BestBuddies is an actually inclusive place.

[BB Protest Mass Layoffs @BbLayoffs]

Hey, @AnthonyKShriver. I'm back. Just want to fill our friends in on the fact that @bestbuddies staff is ANGRY. They demanded that you say #BlackLivesMatter and you responded with this. Total. Flaming. Garbage. Pt 1. #BestBuddiesSpeaksOut

[DoBetter_BestBuddies @DoBetterBestBu1]

#bestbuddiesspeaksout how long have your kids been on the payroll @AnthonyKShriver ? Was it before they were even actually working there? Were they getting full-time $30K+ checks for a few days worth of "translating" work? @RogueBBStaff

[DoBetter_BestBuddies @DoBetterBestBu1]

#bestbuddiesspeaksout Why is Alex the only VP not taking a salary in this company? How about you learn from this @AnthonyKShriver ?

[DoBetter_BestBuddies @DoBetterBestBu1]

@SaveBBStaff @BbLayoffs @AnthonyKShriver He will blame it on the economy and the pandemic, easy scapegoats. He'll ask less financially well-off people to donate even more while he keeps taking a huge salary and giving his children un-earned salaries and titles.

[DoBetter_BestBuddies @DoBetterBestBu1]

@Heffalumps2036 @SaveBBStaff @BBUNemployed @BbLayoffs @AnthonyKShriver @BostonGlobe @BestBuddiesTN @BostonGlobe please reach out to us, we have a lot to say.

[Rogue Best Buddies Staff @RogueBBStaff]

Yiiiiikes. Literally the ONLY company/org I’ve seen selling masks to benefit themselves and not COVID relief efforts...

[Save Best Buddies @SaveBBStaff]

@AnthonyKShriver you need to understand that for each of us speaking out, there are so many more behind us, afraid to speak up because of the culture of fear you have created in this org. You are not a leader, you're a boss. Big difference. #bestbuddiespeaksout