The donor in question who pulled the $1 million donation in response to UWindsor's landmark agreement recognizing Palestinian human rights is none other than far-right Trumpist billionaire Barry M Zekelman. But who is Zekelman and why are his donations problematic? A 🧵: https://t.co/naVFBYO6J2
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
Barry Zekelman is a Canadian-born billionaire steel magnate and is Chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America. His approx net worth according to Forbes is $3.4 billion USD.https://t.co/EfQEVnVwVq
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
He is one of the biggest financiers of Trump's presidential campaigns. In 2018, he made illegal donations of $1.75 million USD to Trump's Super PAC, America First Action, through one of his US companies, violating the US Federal Election Campaign Act. https://t.co/gNxUJeRWby
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
Zekelman's donations were part of a pay-for-play scheme, where he and his wife were invited to a private dinner with Trump after the donations were made. Subsequently, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariffs on imported steel and aluminum - tariffs Zekelman had been pushing for.
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
The US Federal Election Commission (FEC) concluded that Zekelman's contributions were illegal and fined him just under $1 million USD - the third highest fine ever imposed by the FEC.
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
But that's not all. Trump's signature policy project - the US-Mexico Border Wall - is literally built by Zekelman's steel. The 30-foot-tall, rust-colored steel poles that make up the wall is contracted to Atlas Tube, a US division of Zekelman Industries.https://t.co/ZpFXBnISXC pic.twitter.com/MvkVXRgbXs
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
The US-Mexico border is the world's deadliest land route, with >600 deaths/disappearances annually. It has become a graveyard due to border militarization spurred by racist and xenophobic rhetoric. UWindsor should not associate with these kinds of donors.https://t.co/MoPedkb1zg
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
This circles back to the very rationale of the student encampments and the UWindsor agreement in the first place - that university investments should not be funding companies complicit in mass atrocities and egregious human rights abuses. This should also apply to donor policies.
— Vincent Wong (vwlegal.bsky.social) (@VWLegal) September 16, 2024
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