I am sure that you, like me, are greatly saddened by the tragic death of George Floyd last week. We must all respect each other regardless of race, sex, creed, or background. At Academy, we believe that all people are created equal. We need to work together to ensure that this basic principal is embraced by all.

Our company is one based on clear values of responsibility, integrity, and positive impact on our communities. We cannot and will not tolerate those who do not respect basic human principles and support racism or hate speech. We need to come together to create an environment where every person is valued and can feel safe and supported at all times.

As a nation and a company, this is the time to recognize how we can honor George Floyd and other victims like him by making meaningful changes so that racism, bigotry, and discrimination are ended. Peaceful protest and actions should be allowed to go forward to create a legacy of change. We should not let those actions be discredited by those who have malicious intent or seek personal gain. It is sad to see some people twist peaceful and meaningful demonstrations into something harmful.

Hate is its own virus and cannot be allowed to spread. We must address the spread of hate and fear with the same effort that we address COVID-19. Academy is proud to be an incredibly diverse company with great people, and we will move forward to support our communities and our company to prevent further instances like this.

Our company is a strong one full of people who have true hearts to do the right thing. We will continue to work hard to have a positive impact on our communities for our customers and team members. Our primary focus is to ensure your safety and the viability of our business.

Thank each of you for what you do every day for your families, each other, our country, and our company.

Stay healthy and be kind to one another,

Ken C. Hicks
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Chairman, President, and CEO