Hammond declines BP donations amid ongoing union lockout, mayor says

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. confirmed the City of Hammond declined donation attempts from BP for both the Festival of the Lakes and storm recovery efforts. "We said no... We respectfully declined that as well because I don't want to betray the union workers that are locked out," he said, and described himself as a union supporter who would not accept money while workers remain locked out.

He noted that BP’s operations are mostly in nearby Whiting and East Chicago and that Hammond has only a small presence; nonetheless the mayor said the city has monitored the situation and declined corporate contributions that might be perceived as taking sides against striking workers.