Additional Coverage:
- Target faces 40-day boycott for rolling back DEI initiatives (foxbusiness.com)
Target Faces 40-Day Boycott Over DEI Policy Changes
Target is facing a 40-day boycott initiated by Rev. Jamal Bryant of Atlanta, urging consumers to abstain from shopping at the retailer for the duration of Lent. This boycott is a direct response to Target’s recent decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
In late January, Target announced modifications to its DEI initiatives, including discontinuing external diversity surveys, renaming its “Supplier Diversity” team to “Supplier Engagement,” and concluding its three-year DEI goals and REACH initiatives in 2025 as planned. While Target maintains its commitment to inclusivity, Rev.
Bryant argues the changes represent a betrayal of the Black community, citing their significant spending power at the retailer. He is calling for divestment from Target.
The boycott has sparked concern among some minority-owned businesses that rely on Target for visibility and sales. While some entrepreneurs fear negative impacts, others support the boycott’s aims. The “Target Fast” movement is advocating for stockholders to divest from Target and plans to analyze the boycott’s impact on the company.
This boycott comes amidst a broader trend of companies reevaluating their DEI policies, including McDonald’s, Amazon, and Walmart. Target reported nearly $106.6 billion in net sales for 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year. It remains to be seen how this boycott will impact the retail giant’s performance.
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- Target faces 40-day boycott for rolling back DEI initiatives (foxbusiness.com)