IBM: Expel NY Blood Center For Abandoning Chimps

For 30 years, the New York Blood Center (NYBC) conducted experiments on approximately 500 chimpanzees in a lab in Liberia, where the organization captured chimps and bred them in captivity. When the experiments were finished, NYBC moved the survivors to islands in Liberia and The Ivory Coast with a promise to provide for them for the remainder of their lives.

In 2015, NYBC terminated funding for the chimps, leaving 66 survivors to die of starvation and thirst, in spite of its promise to provide them with lifelong care.

NYBC's actions have garnered condemnation from its own corporate donors, including MetLife and Citigroup. In 2015, Dr. Jane Goodall issued an open letter to NYBC, saying, "I find it completely shocking and unacceptable that NYBC would abandon these chimpanzees and discontinue support for even their basic needs.” In 2016, elected officials in New York demanded that the organization reinstate their support for the chimps. 

NYBC earns approximately $300 million each year selling blood donated by the public at collection sites in and around New York City. The space for one of these collection sites is donated by IBM. 

IBM’s Code of Conduct states that the company is “committed to principles of business ethics and lawful conduct” and that “any violation of this Code of Conduct . . . will constitute the basis for the immediate termination of your business relationship with IBM.” We ask that IBM CEO Ginni Rometty honor her company's code of conduct by terminating its relationship with NYBC and reallocating its blood donation space to another blood collection organization. We also ask IBM to join MetLife, Citigroup, Dr. Jane Goodall and elected officials in NY in publicly condemning NYBC’s abandonment of 66 chimpanzees.