Sign at the entrance to a Target store in Venice, Florida.
Erik Mcgregor | Lightrocket | Getty Images
Target's incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke told employees Monday that the "violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful," following the second fatal shooting by federal agents in the company's hometown of Minneapolis in recent weeks.
"I know it's weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me," he said in a video message sent to the big-box retailer's workforce. "What's happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends and family members within Target."
In the video, Fiddelke did not name the two U.S. citizens killed in the shootings, Renee Good or Alex Pretti, describe the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during the enforcement surge in Minneapolis or call for any specific policy changes. He also did not mention President Donald Trump or his administration.
Corporations and CEOs largely stayed silent throughout the deployment of thousands of federal agents in Minneapolis and the killing of Good by an ICE agent earlier this month. Yet even before Saturday's deadly shooting, public opinion polls reflected concerns about the Trump administration's tactics, with 61% of respondents to a New York Times/Siena poll taken after Good's death saying ICE's tactics had gone too far.
Thousands of people have marched in the streets of Minneapolis in sub-zero winter temperatures to protest ICE actions. And on Friday, many local businesses shuttered for an event called "Day of Truth and Freedom," which was organized and backed by local faith leaders.
More than 60 Minnesota business leaders, including Fiddelke, signed a letter on Sunday calling for an "immediate deescalation of tensions" after Pretti's killing. That message also did not specifically mention the shootings or Trump.
Target's Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke will take over as CEO from Brian Cornell.
Courtesy of Target
Fiddelke, Target's chief operating officer, will step into the CEO role on Feb. 1. In the video message to employees, he said he's looking forward to starting the job in a week and "this isn't the first message I imagined I'd send."
He said he's "been meeting with a range of leaders and this weekend added my signature to a statement using our collective voice to call for calm, constructive dialogue and deescalation to reduce tension and keep people safe as that work continues."
Read the full transcript of Fiddelke's video here:
Hi team.
In one week I will officially start as CEO.
We're about to step into a new chapter for Target, and I've been looking forward to starting this work with you for some time, but this isn't the first message I imagined I'd send.
We'll have time to talk very soon about our plans to move Target forward, but right now, as someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are.
The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful.
I know it's weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me.
What's happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends and family members within Target.
We are doing everything we can to manage what's in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority.
During my more than 20 years at Target, one of the things I've loved is how we are part of the communities where we operate.
Since the beginning, we've given 5% of our profits and millions of volunteer hours to make them strong and vibrant places to live and work.
In line with that, I've been meeting with a range of leaders and this weekend added my signature to a statement using our collective voice to call for calm, constructive dialogue and deescalation to reduce tension and keep people safe.
As that work continues, looking ahead to next week, I'll spend my first days in the field listening and learning alongside our teams, and then we'll come together for an all-team huddle to talk about how we're moving our business forward.
Our leadership team is activated, HR is equipped, and our resources remain ready to give you the care and support you need.
Thank you for everything you do for each other, our guests, and our communities.
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