Adam Weinberg, Allison Kanders and Warren Kanders attend 2012 Whitney Gala in 2012. Image by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

By PJ Grisar June 10, 2020

Warren B. Kanders, the embattled former trustee of the Whitney Museum, will divest his company from divisions that produce tear gas, crowd-control munitions and riot equipment.

Kanders, who stepped down as vice chair of the Whitney board following protests alleging that his company Safariland provided tear gas used at the U.S.-Mexico border and sponge munitions used by the IDF in Gaza, announced his intent in a statement to The New York Times. The move comes after renewed scrutiny of Safariland stemming from reports that the company’s tear gas had been used against protesters in Minneapolis.

According to The Times, Kanders’ statement specified that Safariland would sell off its tear gas and rubber and sponge rounds division, Defense Technology, and its riot gear division, Monadnock. Together the divisions make up six percent of the company’s revenue — around $500 million. It did not go into why the decision to divest was made, but claimed that letting go of the divisions would allow the company to focus on “passive defensive protection” like bulletproof vests.

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Last month, a former Nazi-hunting Justice Department prosecutor, Neal Sher, challenged the Whitney’s tax exempt status over the museum’s handling of protests of Kanders’ board membership led by activist group Decolonize This Place (DTP).

Responding to the report of Kanders’ planned divestment, DTP responded that they weren’t yet through with the ex-trustee.

“Now that you have seen which way the wind is blowing, so you are quitting the tear gas business,” DTP tweeted in a statement. “We call on you to show the world that you acknowledge the wrongs by returning the profits to those who were harmed by your products. Individuals, groups and movements that you knew would be harmed by the armed violence of states.”

According to The Times, Kanders’ statement did not express concern for supplying riot gear and chemical agents to the police.

“As we look to the future, Safariland will continue to support public safety professionals in all lines of service as they risk their lives daily to keep the public safe,” Kanders’ statement said.

PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture fellow. He can be reached at [email protected].

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