The Oregonian reports that some 400 employees at their world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon staged a march this week over the reopening of new office building named after famed track coach Alberto Salazar.
Salazar was the subject of a NY Times op-ed piece written by distance running Mary Cain who claimed that his continuous harping about her weight drove her to depression and self-harm.
Employees held signs saying “We Believe Mary.”
From The Oregonian, “ the Cain issue exploded just weeks after Salazar was banned from track and field for four years by a panel of arbitrators for violating anti-doping rules. Coincidentally, construction crews have been renovating the building named after Salazar in recent months. The new and improved building was unveiled Monday”
The Oregonians says the company refused to allow their reporter watch the demonstration, instead a Nike communication staffers “escorted” the reporter “off company property”.
The paper reports that in recent weeks, other women who formerly ran professionally at Nike echoed Cain’s allegations that they too were “fat-shamed” or otherwise criticized for their weight or other issues.
Willamette Week reported that about 400 employees participated in the march, mainly women but with a sprinkling of men.They held signs with messages including “just do better” and “Nike is a woman.”