Charlotte, N.C.-based home security company CPI Security has been a sponsor of high-profile athletics programs and teams in the area, but many of those relationships have been severed following an email sent by the firm’s CEO.
TV station WSOC reports that the situation began with an activist’s open letter. Jorge Millares, the executive director of the group Queen City Unity sent a letter to the mayor of Charlotte, as well as the city council and city manager urging them to take action in the wake of police action during protests in the city. CPI Security CEO Ken Gill responded to that email, suggesting the activist’s time would be better spent “focus[ing] on black on black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men.”
Millares posted a screen capture of that response, and called for a boycott of CPI Security. Since then, the Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers, University of South Carolina and North Carolina State University have each ended their respective relationships with the firm.
Last Saturday, we said we are committed to doing our part and we mean it.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 7, 2020
CPI Security has been a long term partner but, upon reflection, we feel that it is right to end our relationship.
We have informed Mr. Gill of our decision tonight.
Hornets Sports & Entertainment Statement Regarding CPI Partnership pic.twitter.com/V7EUYQ5u6a
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 7, 2020
— Gamecock Athletics (@GamecocksOnline) June 7, 2020
A statement from NC State Athletics on its partnership with CPI Security: pic.twitter.com/BW04iW4cfE
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) June 7, 2020
Gill posted an apology for his statement to the CPI Security Twitter account on Saturday, but by then the damage was done.
— CPI Security (@cpisecurity) June 6, 2020
