AKRON, Ohio — Employees of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company based in Akron held a rally Thursday morning in response to President Donald Trump's calls to boycott their products.
Workers from United Steelworkers Local 2 hosted the event at their headquarters on Kelly Avenue. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan was in attendance, along with Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes and State Rep. Tavia Galonski (all Democrats).
Trump expressed his distaste for Goodyear on Wednesday after a photo from a reported company meeting stated workers there could not wear apparel such as "Make America Great Again" hats or "Blue Lives Matter" gear, while at the same time allowing the expression of LGBT rights and "Black Lives Matter." Goodyear has said the graphic in question did not come from its corporate office and was not part of a diversity training class, and reiterated its right to ask employees not to engage in overt political expression "of any kind" while on the job.
The president's remarks were met with widespread backlash from Democrats, who chastised him for attacking a private American company that employs 3,300 people in Ohio alone. Even local Republicans distanced themselves from Trump, with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted urging people to continue buying from the "great company."
On Thursday, Ryan took the opportunity not only to stand up for Goodyear's workers but also to tout the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris against the incumbent Trump.
"This guy is using his bully pulpit to attack and try to kneecap Goodyear," Ryan said of the president. "It ain't gonna happen, Donald Trump. You better enjoy the White House, because your days are numbered, pal."
Also on Thursday, Goodyear CEO Rich Kramer put out the following letter on social media.
"To be clear, Goodyear does not endorse any political organization, party, or candidate," Kramer wrote. "We have a longstanding corporate policy that asks associates to refrain from workplace expressions in support of any candidate or political party."
"Second, Goodyear strongly supports our law enforcement partners and deeply appreciates all they do to put their lives on the line each and every day for our communities," Kramer added.
3News streamed the entire event live. You can watch it again in the player below: