Midwest
Harley-Davidson board of directors silent on future, fate of 'woke' CEO and chairman
Harley-Davidson accused of going ‘woke’
‘America Reports’ panelists Taylor Riggs and Jackie DeAngelis discuss the controversy surrounding the iconic motorcycle company and the importance of political neutrality in businesses.
The leadership of Harley-Davidson is facing questions following a series of curious strategic decisions and public relations moves that have attracted widespread attention.
The “woke” internal agenda of CEO Jochen Zeitz, and the shocking comparisons he made of himself to the Taliban, the global terror group, in his quest for “sustainability” have damaged the motorcycle maker’s brand integrity, many say — plus sparked outrage on social media and launched a rebellion among Harley-Davidson’s loyal customers.
Just two days ago, the company released a statement renouncing DEI and other controversial initiatives it had put into place in recent years.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CEO COMPARES HIMSELF TO ‘TALIBAN’ IN EFFORT TO REMAKE MOTORCYCLE BRAND
“It is critical to our business that we hire and retain the best talent and that all employees feel welcome,” the company noted.
“That said, we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals.”
Jochen Zietz, chairman and CEO of Harley-Davidson, has compared himself to the Taliban, the global terror group, in his quest for “sustainability.” Inset: a biker with an American flag on his Harley. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid | Reuters)
In late July, filmmaker and conservative political commentator Robby Starbuck tweeted, “@harleydavidson has been one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke.” This week, Starbuck celebrated the company’s change of heart.
“Recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke.”
Given this and more, there are increasing concerns about the direction of the Milwaukee motorcycle maker, one of America’s most beloved brands.
Zeitz is both Harley-Davidson’s CEO and chairman of the board.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SLAMS BRAKES ON ‘WOKE’ POLICIES AFTER SPARKING BIKER AND SOCIAL-MEDIA OUTRAGE
Fox News Digital this week attempted to reach Zeitz and Harley-Davidson, as well as each member of its board of directors, to discuss their versions of recent events, as well as other issues.
Jochen Zeitz is seen in Nuremberg, Germany, in 2008, years before he became CEO and chairman of the board of Harley-Davidson. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Here is the result.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ‘USED’ BIKERS BEFORE ‘WOKE’ CONTROVERSY, FORMER OUTLAW RIDER CLAIM
Jochen Zeitz
Board bio: Chairman, president and chief executive officer, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Additional bio: Became CEO of Puma at age 30, founder of Team B with a mission to define business by social agenda, and opened the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art in South Africa in 2017.
“We are trying to take on traditional capitalism and trying to redefine it,” Zeitz told executives at a globalist business summit in Switzerland in 2020, the year he became CEO of Harley-Davidson.
Reply to Fox News Digital: Did not respond to phone or email requests from Fox News Digital.
Festival participants are shown on their Harley-Davidson bikes at the big ride in Saxony, Dresden, Germany, in July 2023. (Matthias Rietschel/picture alliance/Getty Images)
Troy Alstead
Board bio: President and CEO, Ocean5 and Table 47, founder of Harbor 05, LLC, and former chief operating officer, Starbucks Corporation
Reply to Fox News Digital: No response.
Jared Dourdeville
Board bio: H Partners Management, LLC
Reply to Fox News Digital: No response.
James Duncan Farley Jr.
Board bio: President and chief executive officer Ford Motor Company
Reply to Fox News Digital: No response.
Allan Golston
Board bio: President, United States Program for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Reply to Fox News Digital: “I’m not able to comment,” Golston said, and hung up the phone. Also, an out-of-office message arrived via email.
A Harley-Davidson logo is seen near a store in Krakow, Poland, in January. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Sara Levinson
Board bio: Co-founder and former director of Katapult Studio, former executive, Clubmom, Inc., NFL Properties, Inc. and MTV: Music Television.
Reply to Fox News Digital: No response.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews/lifestyle
Norman Thomas Linebarger
Board bio: Former executive chairman of Cummins, Inc. and former chairman and chief executive officer of Cummins, Inc.
Reply to Fox News Digital: No response.
Jochen Zeitz, then-CEO of Puma, is shown in Berlin in 2009. (Michele Tantussi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Rafeh Masood
Board bio: Chief growth and digital officer of Royal Caribbean Group
Reply to Fox News Digital: Unnamed individual answered phone, said Masood was not available.
Maryrose Sylvester
Board bio: Former executive, ABB Group, General Electric Intelligent Platforms, and General Electric Lighting
Reply to Fox News Digital: No response.
Fox News Digital’s Hannah Grossman contributed to this report.
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Michigan
3 dead after vehicle collides with semitruck on Interstate 94 in Wayne County, Michigan State Police say
Three people are dead after a vehicle hit the back of a semitruck on Interstate 94 in Southeast Michigan late Friday, state officials said.
The Michigan State Police responded to the crash on eastbound I-94 near Michigan Avenue in Wayne County around 11:44 p.m. Investigators said the semitruck was stopped in traffic due to flooding when it was struck by the vehicle.
Three passengers in the vehicle that crashed into the semi died at the scene, according to the state law enforcement agency, and the driver was taken into custody.
The ages of the individuals involved in the collision have not yet been disclosed by officials.
As of Saturday afternoon, the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
MONTEVIDEO
— One of two suspects charged for their alleged roles in a Sept. 24, 2025, drive-by shooting in Montevideo has entered a guilty plea.
David Michael Pillatzki, 28, of Willmar, entered a petition Thursday, July 2, in Chippewa County District Court to plead guilty to a charge of aiding and abetting a drive-by shooting, which will be reduced from the original felony to a gross misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement.
Contributed
The agreement also calls for Pillatzki to cooperate in the prosecution against the other man charged in the incident.
The criminal complaint against Pillatzki alleges that he was a passenger in a vehicle from which shots were fired at a residence on the 400 block of South Third Street shortly after 8 p.m. Sept. 24. There were two occupants in the residence. Neither was injured.
Pillatzki was upset that his Ford Bronco had been shot on or about May 3, 2025, in Willmar, according to the complaint.
Contributed/ Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office
The man suspected of firing the shots, Albert Vaniler Hughes, 27, of Montevideo, was charged in March after the results of laboratory analysis by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were received.
DNA and ballistic evidence link Hughes to the gun used in the shooting, according to the complaint filed against him.
He has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of drive-by shooting, intentional discharge of a firearm, and reckless discharge of a firearm.
The District Court recently assigned his case to a different judge, and a new court date has not been scheduled.
Missouri
KCFD: 1 adult, 1 child, a dog displaced after a house fire in the 3800 block of Myrtle Avenue
KANSAS CITY, Mo — The Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department is investigating a house fire that displaced one adult, one child and a dog early Saturday morning.
KCFD companies were dispatched around 3:08 a.m. Saturday to a reported fire in the 3800 block of Myrtle Avenue.
When they got there, crews found heavy fire coming from a two-story vacant home, with flames extending into a neighboring house.
KCFD
The original home where the fire stemmed from ended up collapsing on itself. The flames were extinguished and brought under control around 3:48 a.m.
City Planning and Dangerous Buildings was requested to the scene.
No injuries have been reported from this incident. Red Cross was called to help assist the adult, child and dog.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.
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