The ACS refused to comment about the reasons behind its decision to the Washington Examiner, stating only that, “when we chose to hold our 2018 event and related dinner at Mar-a-Lago, we selected the venue based on a variety of factors, including costs and venue requirements," and adding that, "our values and commitment to diversity are critical as we work to address the impact of cancer in every community. It has become increasingly clear that the challenge to those values is outweighing other business considerations."

These organizations were not alone in the health care sector, in expressing outrage over the president's response to Charlottesville.


On August 14 via Twitter, Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson said, “the president should consistently demonstrate zero tolerance for white supremacy, neo-Nazi groups. We must be unwavering.”

Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini went further, in a memo reported by CNBC.

He stated, "I strongly agree with the remarks of former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush who stated: 'America must always reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred of all forms.'"

He also expressed support for others who voiced similar concerns, "I am pleased that many other political leaders from both parties have expressed similarly strong statements – and I am ashamed of our president's behavior and comments."

Bertolini added that, "We all breathe the same air, we all want the same thing for our children's future, and we all aspire for the pursuit of happiness and good health for our families and friends. We are not a country of hate, and we are all judged by our own God based on the compassion and humanity we show others.

"I hope that each of us takes time to discuss with our family and friends the responsibility we all share, every day, to live up to the values that have made our nation so great – those of tolerance and respect for others. We are a great nation because of our diversity which fosters sharing of ideas and experiences. Our country is not perfect, but it is more tolerant than any other nation I know. We can only remain great if we remain intolerant of hate."

And Anthem's CEO Joseph Swedish, send his employees a memo that “condemned” the “bigotry, hatred and racism on display in Charlottesville last weekend."

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