Home Depot wins court battle over BLM apron policy amid unrest

The case, decided by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on November 6, 2025, centers on a Home Depot store in New Brighton, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, an employee at the store wrote “BLM” (Black Lives Matter) in black marker on their required orange apron. The employee, who identified as a person of color, said the message was meant to be “approachable” and a symbol of solidarity against prejudice and racism. Other employees also displayed “BLM” on their aprons during a time when concerns about racial discrimination were being raised at the store.