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Fuji suspends sales of bikes to US police forces after seeing them used against protestors

Police officers have been filmed using bikes as weapons during protests resulting from the killing of George Floyd

Fuji Bikes has suspended sales to US police forces after seeing them, “used in violent tactics that we did not intend or design them to be used for.”

Protests following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last Monday have featured many examples of precisely the kinds of police brutality that is being protested.

On a number of occasions this has involved the use of police bicycles as either a shield or weapon.

Fuji Bikes yesterday released a statement saying it would suspend sales to police forces until it could be convinced that officers’ training, “reinforces that bicycles are not a weapon against our community.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fuji’s core values have always been rooted in supporting communities and organizations that are making real change at home and abroad. To hear that there are instances where bicycles have been used as a weapon against those who are vulnerable, those speaking out against the unjust treatment of people of color, and those standing alongside them advocating change, has deeply upset our community, our company and the heart of the Fuji brand. We support many diverse organizations and athletes--not for marketing stories, but because we truly want to make a difference in our community. To have these efforts overshadowed by cases of violence with bicycles is unacceptable. We have seen instances in the last week where police have used bicycles in violent tactics, which we did not intend or design our bicycles for. We had always viewed the use of our bicycles by police, fire, security and EMS as one of the better forms of community outreach. Community police on bikes can better connect with and understand the neighborhood, facilitating positive relationships between law enforcement and the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect. In an effort to make real change, we are beginning a dialogue with police departments nationwide to address how bikes are used in police activity and to ensure that police’s on-bike training reinforces that bicycles are not a weapon against our community. At this time, we are suspending the sale of Fuji police bikes until a conversation with these departments has occurred and we are confident that real change is being made. We also must stand together against the mistreatment and abuse of the Black and Brown community. We will continue to look within our company and our core values to do better because our Fuji family deserves better. We stand with you and look forward to doing our part to do better. - BikeCo,LLC: North American distributor of Fuji Bicycles.

A post shared by Fuji Bikes (@fujibikes) on

A spokesperson for BikeCo, the North American distributor of Fuji Bicycles said: “Fuji’s core values have always been rooted in supporting communities and organisations that are making real change at home and abroad.

“To hear that there are instances where bicycles have been used as a weapon against those who are vulnerable, those speaking out against the unjust treatment of people of colour, and those standing alongside them advocating change, has deeply upset our community, our company and the heart of the Fuji brand.”

The firm says it had always felt that community police on bikes could better connect with and understand a neighbourhood, facilitating positive relationships between law enforcement and local citizens.

However, the spokesperson said: “In an effort to make real change, we are beginning a dialogue with police departments nationwide to address how bikes are used in police activity and to ensure that police’s on-bike training reinforces that bicycles are not a weapon against our community.

“At this time, we are suspending the sale of Fuji police bikes until a conversation with these departments has occurred and we are confident that real change is being made.

“We also must stand together against the mistreatment and abuse of the Black and Brown community. We will continue to look within our company and our core values to do better because our Fuji family deserves better. We stand with you and look forward to doing our part to do better.”

Fuji is not by any means the sole bicycle supplier to US police forces. On yesterday’s live blog, we featured the following cringe-inducing clip of officers riding Trek bikes.

In a blog post on the firm’s website, Trek’s president, John Burke, writes: “My opinion is that George Floyd’s murder signifies more than the raw police brutality African Americans have experienced for generations. Floyd’s death, and the riots that have ensued, signify in a greater sense, the growing disparity between the realities experienced by black people and white people across the United States.”

Burke expresses his hope that, “George Floyd’s murder should be a wakeup call to actually do something that will provide real hope and real change for millions of Americans who—the facts would tell us—have almost no reason for hope today.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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19 comments

Avatar
kevvjj | 4 years ago
2 likes

think my next bike will be a Fuji

Nice and welcome approach by them.

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grOg replied to kevvjj | 4 years ago
0 likes

virtue signalling nonsense..I won't be buying their cheap Chinese junk.

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NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
0 likes

The Police are using the bikes for self protection.

The protesters are violent. A Policeman has been killed by such.

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Achtervolger replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
2 likes

Do you mean a police officer has been killed during the current wave of protests in the USA? If so, I hadn't realised. Do you have a source so I could read up on it?

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Philh68 replied to Achtervolger | 4 years ago
5 likes

A retired police officer was shot by a looter. Which means a private citizen was killed by another private citizen who was already committing a crime, which has nothing to do with the protests.

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SNS1938 replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
2 likes
NZ Vegan Rider wrote:

The Police are using the bikes for self protection.

The protesters are violent. A Policeman has been killed by such.

Did you watch the video?

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
2 likes
NZ Vegan Rider wrote:

The Police are using the bikes for self protection.

The protesters are violent. A Policeman has been killed by such.

A tiny percentage of the protesters are violent, and from what I've seen, that's probably lower than the number of violent police.

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froze replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
0 likes

Exactly, the mob wanted to become violent, they were told many times to break up and go home, they refused so they went after the cops and cops used what they had to get them to stop, it's better than just shooting them all!  and no one got hurt, so what's the big deal FUJI?  Now I know not to every buy a Fuji bike because they think the crowd should have instead beat the crap out of the police and maybe killed some of them, then Fuji could be very proud of the protesters.  

Just so you all know, Advance Sports International owns Fuji, as well as Kestrel and Breezer, so you all know what models not to buy.

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Mathemagician replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
2 likes

I've got some boots that need cleaning, if you want to put that tongue to work.

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Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
9 likes

Best wishes to everyone out protesting today.

Hope it stays safe. I'm sick of seeing feral groups of heavily armed thugs in police uniform attacking people, free speech and democracy whilst those in charge set out to create further division rather than address the deep unfairnesses of a dysfunctional society.

The photo is of Ieshia Evans at a 2016 BLM protest in Baton Rouge, following yet another extra judicial killing of a black man. I reckon this is probably the most powerful photo of human dignity against repression that I have ever seen. The policemen in all their protective riot gear are seemingly blown away and powerless whilst she stands rooted and strong. I hope the protestors today see that they have this same power.

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Rich_cb | 4 years ago
3 likes

Hypocritical virtue signalling from Fuji.

They knew exactly what their bikes were going to be used for.

Here's an article from 2017 detailing the same tactics that have apparently surprised Fuji so much.

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/jun/15/the-new-horsemen-why-amer...

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eburtthebike | 4 years ago
6 likes

While this won't have any practical effect, it is a very nice statement of morality by the company. 

I needed yet another irony meter at the sight of police violently attacking unarmed people protesting peacefully about police brutality.  And the protestors carrying carrying assault rifles at a State Capital building were completely untouched.

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EddyBerckx replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
0 likes
eburtthebike wrote:

While this won't have any practical effect, it is a very nice statement of morality by the company. 

I needed yet another irony meter at the sight of police violently attacking unarmed people protesting peacefully about police brutality.  And the protestors carrying carrying assault rifles at a State Capital building were completely untouched.

There was a video going round of a police office giving a pre warning to a couple neo nazi groups to move before they stormed the area. Sums it all up really. Apparently it takes 12 weeks to go from civilian to heavily armed police officer in Minneapolis...compared to 2 years for an unarmed officer over here. Assuming the pre-checks are inadequate too

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grOg replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
1 like

A completely ridiculous virtue signalling,'let's get free publicity for Fuji bikes' statement and whatever you may think about gun laws in the U.S.,it is legal in parts of the U.S. to carry assault rifles.

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Compact Corned Beef replied to grOg | 4 years ago
1 like

Just 'cos it's legal doesn't mean it's good or sensible.

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ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

I search twitter threads so that you don't have to.

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Rome73 replied to ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

That officer is sure lucky he is wearing a face mask. The way he dismounts from the bike is extremely fey and camp. The image will live on on social media for years to come. 

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Spokesperson replied to Rome73 | 4 years ago
0 likes

It is a woman cop. Would also be nice if it was a guy though.

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Philh68 replied to Rome73 | 4 years ago
0 likes

You try doing it with all that hardware on your belt. Their police cars have modified seats to accomodate all the gear they have to carry too.

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