By Anna Peirano
Over 510,000 people have signed a petition asking Macy's to dump Donald Trump.
Trump has long been involved with the mega-retailer. They have a special deal to sell his clothing line and fragrance, have honored Trump with major events, and feature Trump in the "magic of Macy's" advertising campaign.
Angelo Carusone, the progenitor of the petition, says he will personally deliver the petition to Macy's headquarters before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for maximum exposure. He plans to deliver it to Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman of the Board, CEO and President at Macy's Inc.
Carusone is a 30-year-old law school graduate, former debate champion, and director of online strategy for Media Matters, according to Businessweek. Back in 2009, he led a campaign calling on advertisers to drop their support of Glenn Beck. Advertisers eventually listened, causing Beck to leave Fox.
In his petition, Carusone sites Macy's social responsibility policy, which reads:
There is no shortage of talk about the obligation of public companies to be socially responsible to the people and communities where they do business. At Macy's, Inc., we hold those same beliefs - along with a belief that actions speak louder than words when it comes to helping tackle some of the toughest problems facing us today.
The petition goes on to read: "Donald Trump does not reflect the 'magic of Macy's. We urge you to sever ties with him."
"Trump’s brand is consequence-free bullying. That doesn’t reflect well on Macy’s. People expect more from Macy’s,” says Carusone. “I’m more interested in what they have to say and less interested in what Donald Trump says.”
The petition has currently received 510,641 signatures on SignOn.org at the time this article was written. The goal is to reach 525,000.
Trump's spokesman, Michael Cohen, said the mogul and his team were unconcerned. "Mr. Trump is important to Macy's, both as a brand and as an endorser. His ties, shirts, cufflinks, fragrances and other merchandise are top-selling items across the country."
To sign the petition, visit the site here.
A few statements from the Twitterverse:
I’ll NEVER GO TO MACY’S AGAIN ! I didnt know they sold Donald Trump’s Line! If they don’t care that they sell products from a LOUDMOUTH
— Cher (@cher) November 12, 2012
It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2012
RACIST CRETIN,WHO’D LIE LIKE “HIS RUG”TO GET SOME CHEAP PRESS ! I CANT BELIEVE MACY’STHINKS HE’S THE RIGHT “MAN” 2 REPRESENT THEIR NAME !
— Cher (@cher) November 12, 2012
.@cher--I don’t wear a “rug”—it’s mine. And I promise not to talk about your massive plastic surgeries that didn’t work.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2012
So, yea...this happened. (Me + Glenn Beck) + Cher = #DumpTrump.bit.ly/XCmOGm
— Angelo Carusone (@GoAngelo) November 13, 2012
Petitioning Macy's to dump Donald Trump is like petitioning McDonalds to dump Ronald McDonald.
— JP the Janitor (@JPHaddadio) November 13, 2012
Donald Trump, Cher Feud on Twitter as Thousands Clamor for Macy’s to Dump Him: (GettyImages… goo.gl/fb/WNKFT
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews___) November 13, 2012
PLEASE NOTE: Far more Americans want @macys to secede from @realdonaldtrump than Texas to secede from the US. nationalmemo.com/dump-trump-ign…
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) November 13, 2012
Hey @nbc & @macys... how long you going to pal around with a guy calling for a revolution because he doesn't like the results?#DumpTrump
— Chris Pyburn (@CpyburnDC) November 7, 2012
