Warren B. Kanders who is a Vice-Chair at the Whitney Board of Whitney Museum in New York has had to resign from the board. This comes after the protests that were going on against Warren from the museum. He has said that he will resign following the protests that have continued against him from inside the museum for the past six months.
Now, you should also note why Warren is facing protests from a long period. This is due to the fact that Warren is an owner of Safariland which is a company known for making tear-gas canisters. Apparently, these tear-gas canisters are then being used against the protestors by military and law enforcement agencies. The protests against Warren have been continuing since the first time this report was published.
Warren B. Kanders, in a letter to the museum’s board, has written that :
“The targeted campaign of attacks against me and my company that has been waged these past several months has threatened to undermine the important work of the Whitney. I joined this board to help the museum prosper. I do not wish to play a role, however advertent, in its demise”
Also, Warren B. Kanders might have been feeling the pressure from inside Whitney’s Board as well. This is because just a few weeks ago, eight participants requested that their work be pulled from the museum and the Whitney Biennial due to the protests against Warren. These artists were also protesting against the presence of Warren on Whitney’s Board.
Whitney’s director, Adam Weinberg, said in a statement,
“Warren and Allison Kanders have been unwavering in their commitment to this institution, including a generous lead gift towards the Museum’s building project. The Whitney’s groundbreaking Warhol exhibition and the past exhibitions of the works of Laura Owens, Jeff Koons and Wade Guyton, among others, were in part made possible thanks to their support. As Director, I am very grateful.”
