Warren Kanders exits tear gas business after Whitney pressure
Warren Kanders, former vice chair of the Whitney Museum, announced his defense company Safariland Group will divest its tear gas and crowd control divisions. Safariland is selling Defense Technology (tear gas, rubber rounds) and Monadnock (riot gear, batons) to focus on body armor. Kanders resigned from the Whitney board in 2019 after sustained protests over his business. Artists including Eddie Arroyo, Nicole Eisenman, and Forensic Architecture demanded their work be removed from the 2019 Whitney Biennial, citing the museum's inaction. Michael Rakowitz declined an invitation to exhibit. Safariland tear gas was reportedly used against protesters in recent anti-racism demonstrations and against asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border in 2019. The divestment announcement did not specify a reason.
Key facts
- Warren Kanders resigned as Whitney Museum vice chair in 2019.
- Safariland Group is divesting Defense Technology and Monadnock divisions.
- Defense Technology sells tear gas, rubber and sponge rounds.
- Monadnock sells riot gear including batons.
- Safariland tear gas was used against asylum seekers at US-Mexico border in 2019.
- Unverified reports of Safariland products used against anti-racism protesters in 2020.
- Eight artists requested removal from 2019 Whitney Biennial over Kanders.
- Michael Rakowitz declined biennial invitation over Kanders.
Entities
Artists
- Eddie Arroyo
- Agustina Woodgate
- Korakrit Arunanondchai
- Meriem Bennani
- Nicole Eisenman
- Forensic Architecture
- Nicholas Galanin
- Christine Sun Kim
- Michael Rakowitz
Institutions
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Safariland Group
- Defense Technology
- Monadnock
- Whitney Biennial
Locations
- New York
- United States
- US-Mexico border