CLEVELAND — One of the most prominent civil rights leaders in America was in Cleveland on Wednesday to lend his support to the Black Contractors Group (BCG) and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in their ongoing dispute with Sherwin-Williams.
Rev. Jesse Jackson called on Sherwin-Williams to meet with the SCLC, who are calling for a Black-owned firm to be a key partner on the Cleveland-based company's global headquarters project.
The 80-year-old Jackson spoke at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church at 1161 East 105th Street.
“I am absolutely supportive of this campaign,” Jackson said in a release following Wednesday's event. “All sides must get back to the table to resolve this issue. It is in the best interest of Cleveland to meet with the SCLC.”
The dispute between Sherwin-Williams and the BCG dates back to 2020, after the company announced plans to build a 36-story office tower that will be located in downtown and a research and development center in Brecksville. The BCG and SCLC say they met with Sherwin-Williams and received what they believed was a commitment for a Black-owned firm to join the team of nine key partners, only to have the company walk away from those negotiations.
Sherwin-Williams says no special agreement was made with the Black Contractors Group.
Following Jackson's appearance in Cleveland, Sherwin-Williams Vice President of Global Corporate Communications, Julie Young, released a statement that read, in part:
"The actions and results from Sherwin-Williams deliberate approach to promoting economic equity on the Building our Future project speaks volumes. Our thoughtful and consistent approach to providing opportunities for businesses owned by underrepresented groups to participate in this project has already and continues to deliver an extensive list of impressive accomplishments which we expect to grow. It is unfortunate that some are using their personal agendas and animosities to drive a false narrative and cloud the positive impact the Building Our Future project is making on the Cleveland community now and for years to come."
You can read Sherwin Williams' entire statement below:
According to the SCLC, Jackson joins a list of several other key civil rights leaders who are encouraging Sherwin-Williams to resume discussions.
- Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
- former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, who was a senior aide to Dr. King,
- Rev. Al Sharpton, who is the founder and president of the National Action Network
- Dr. Rev. E.T. Caviness, a legendary Cleveland pastor and civil rights activist
- Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., president and CEO of the national office of SCLC
Sherwin-Williams has broken ground on both their new downtown Cleveland headquarters and the Brecksville research and development center. Both facilities are slated to be completed in late 2024.
Previous Reporting:
- Sherwin-Williams holds virtual celebration to kick off construction of downtown Cleveland headquarters
- Sherwin-Williams' final global headquarters proposal approved by Cleveland city planners
- Sherwin-Williams breaks ground at new site of Global Research and Development Center in Brecksville
- Civil rights group protests at Sherwin-Williams, seeks addition of Black-owned firm as key partner in global headquarters project