Burton team riders Nicolas Müller and Yale Cousino observing the protest.
Photo: Jeff Boliba

In the ongoing saga of public outcry over Burton’s Love and Primo graphics, which feature PG-13 Playboy collaborations and depictions of self mutilation respectively, local Vermont activists staged a protest today, October 23rd, of Burton’s Burlington headquarters. Sources estimate there to be approximately 150 protesters on site.

Photo: Jeff Boliba

Burton CEO Laurent Potdevin released a statement about the graphics last night summing up the company’s stance:
As a result of the opinions of an isolated group of individuals, we want to clarify where Burton stands on our board graphic artwork. We respect everyone’s right to his or her own opinion, and we also respect the right to protest. That said, here is our position: Burton supports freedom of artistic expression. Board graphics are artwork, and art can be offensive to some and inspiring to others. Snowboarding is a sport and a lifestyle where boundaries are pushed in terms of artwork, similar to the world of music, video games and movies. From Lange ski boot ads since the 1970’s featuring barely clothed women, to the Burton Love series, winter sports have a long history of tongue-in-cheek graphics and advertising. Our product development process is driven by riders, and when some of our pro riders asked for these graphics, we backed them. Burton is a global company, and these boards have been embraced and are a success around the world. We are not breaking any laws by creating these boards, and it is our sincere belief that these graphics do not condone or encourage violence towards women in any way. Burton’s support of women, from entry level employees here in Burlington to our team riders on Olympic podiums, is unparalleled. We, as a company, are immensely proud of our record here. We will keep these boards in the market and have no intention of recalling them.

The statement did not dissuade the ring leaders of the protest. According to the Burlington Free Press, Lezlee Sprenger, who has spearheaded the movement against Burton, took issue with the idea that those who were offended by the boards were an isolated group. “We are the Vermont community as a whole. This is a substantial community response,” Sprenger said.

On a Web site set up for the protest, Sprenger counted 1,300 hits since it went up Tuesday. The Web site, http://www.neurell.com/protest.html, includes a list of suggestions to impact Burton and is signed by Sprenger and Susie Debrosse, a local media literacy educator.

Sprenger also told the Vermont Free Press she is disappointed by Potdevin’s assertion that the Playboy graphics “do not condone or encourage violence towards women in any way.”

“As a woman, I know I’m being oppressed by pornography,” Sprenger said.

Burton’s Love Coalition Line.

This story has received massive amounts of coverage in recent weeks and Burton has received a flood of emails, phone calls, and letters. Additionally, Spectrum Youth Services, a Burlington-based mental health and substance abuse awareness service for teens, which Burton has been supporting for years through its Chill program, will no longer accept Burton’s support.

Mark Redmond, the executive director of Spectrum Youth and Family Services, told the Rutland Herald he’s taking a stand against a company that up until two weeks ago, he bragged about.”They used to pick up four of our kids and drop them off at Burton headquarters with other kids from the Boys and Girls Club,” Redmond said. “Eight Fridays in a row they gave them snowboards, free hats, gloves, lessons and lift tickets and they went out and boarded at Bolton Valley.” But Rutland is up in arms about depictions of self mutilation. There is nothing funny or amusing about it,” the director wrote in a letter to the Herald. “It is a very sad and tragic condition when young people feel the compulsion to cut or harm themselves, and it is extremely difficult to treat. It is beyond comprehension that any company would use self-harm as a marketing ploy,” according to Redmond.

Burton’s Primo Coalition Line

Here is a partial list of folks and organizations that have spoken out
about this:
- Spectrum Family Youth Services
- White Ribbon Campaign (men who speak out against Domestic Violence)
- Center for Media and Democracy
- Girl Scouts Council President
- Federation of Business and Professional Women
- Vermont Network
- Women’s Business Owner’s Network (individual members)
- UVM Presidents Commission on the Status of Women
- Private therapists
- Moms, dads and youth
- Facebook pages
- Feminist Peace Network

All of the boards that have these folks up in arms are part of Burton’s Coalition line, which is only available in select, specialty retailers. Additionally, the Love boards, which do not show any body parts which could not be seen in PG-13 rated movie, will be fully wrapped and only sold to those over 18 years of age.

Stay tuned to Transworld Business for coverage of the protest.

Tags: burton snowboards, graphics, love, primo, protest

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 am and is filed under FEATURES, NEWS. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.