Nationwide Walmart, McDonald's boycotts to begin from August 1: Here's all you need to know
This comes after a string of boycotts initiated by consumers that occurred after President Donald Trump was re-elected in January.
Progressive organizations have taken the lead in this campaign, voicing disapproval of firms' retraction of their diversity employment pledges as well as worries about worker rights and corporate tax evasion.
People's Union USA founder announces Walmart, McDonald's boycotts
John Schwarz, the founder of The People's Union USA, announced on Instagram that a boycotts of McDonald's and Walmart were planned for August.
In the past, this grassroots campaign has led nationwide 24-hour 'economic blackouts' and coordinated boycotts against Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Schwartz has over 360,000 TikTok fans and over 500,000 Instagram followers.
The goal of the August campaign is to prevent customers from spending money at McDonald's for the whole month. Walmart and Lowe's will also be the targets of comparable measures.
The People's Union has advised customers to postpone unnecessary purchases at the Walmart during the period of the boycott or, if possible, reroute purchases to small, independent firms.
'We are not a political party,' The People's Union USA's mission said in a statement. 'We are not a protest. We are a movement of people, organizing to take back control of our economy, government and future of our country.'
Also Read: What happened to Laura Dahlmeier? German Olympic champion dies in tragic incident in Pakistan
What we know about McDonald's boycott
With an estimated 68 million patrons every day, McDonald's is the biggest restaurant chain in the world.
McDonald's has been facing boycotts from the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement since 2023.
Last year, McDonald's decision to reduce its diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has drawn criticism.
A list of the main complaints with each targeted corporation was posted on the website of The People's Union USA earlier this year. The grievances inlcuded tax evasion, labor conditions, and general monopolistic conduct.
McDonald's landed on the list due to alleged 'tax avoidance and known lobbying against wage increases.'
What we know about Walmart boycott
The People's Union USA launched Walmart boycott in April as well, with Schwartz saying, 'We're boycotting Walmart because they've become the symbol of everything that's wrong with corporate power in this country... Our mission is simple, we want these corporations to start paying their fair share of taxes so the American people can finally be relieved of the burden of federal income tax.'
Boycott of Lowe's is also planned for August. Moreover, Amazon, Uber, and Pepsi Co. will face boycotts in September.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion notice in LS to discuss SIR
Hello readers! Both Houses of Parliament saw protests by opposition MPs on Thursday against the ongoing voter roll revision in Bihar, leading to repeated adjournments through the session. Earlier, the government made a restraint statement in Parliament on the US imposing 25% tariff and penalty, saying India will take 'all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest' while subtly telling the Americans that the country has rapidly transformed from being one of the fragile 5 to the fastest growing major economy in the world. Stay tuned to DH for latest updates on the Monsoon Session.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Trump demands pharma companies slash US prices in blow to industry
By Madison Muller, Damian Garde and Robert Langreth President Donald Trump escalated his campaign to pressure pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices, sending letters to 17 of the world's largest drugmakers demanding they charge the US what other countries pay for new medicines. In the letters, sent to Eli Lilly & Co., Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer Inc. and others, Trump insisted companies immediately lower what they charge Medicaid for existing drugs. He also asked them to guarantee that future medicines be launched and remain at prices on par with what they cost overseas. Trump gave the companies 60 days to voluntarily comply, threatening to 'deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices' if they don't. The pharmaceutical industry has long protested the idea of globally linked drug prices as a threat to years of US dominance in biomedical research, sapping the incentive to invent new therapies and preventing patients from getting medicines they need. Executives have urged the administration to instead turn its attention to the middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain, who negotiate prices on behalf of employers. After Trump's latest demands, individual companies issued statements touting their willingness to work with the administration on access and affordability. The industry's largest trade group, however, took a stronger stance against the proposed changes. 'Importing foreign price controls would undermine American leadership, hurting patients and workers,' said Alex Schriver, a spokesman for PhRMA. Losing to China He reiterated calls to rein in pharmacy benefit middlemen and take on foreign countries shirking their responsibility, and raised the specter of losing ground to China, an area of concern to Trump. 'At a time when China is threatening to overtake the US in biopharmaceutical leadership, we need to ensure America continues to be the most attractive place in the world to develop innovative medicines,' he said. 'Although today's announcement carries some headline shock, we continue to view it as unlikely the Trump administration will be able to successfully implement these policies,' said BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman in a note. In some cases Trump is 'likely lacking legal standing to execute on what he outlines.' Trump's drugmaker demands: Provide their full portfolio of medicines at a Most Favored Nation rate for every patient on Medicaid, the US government program for low-income Americans Guarantee the lowest MFN rate for all newly launched medicines given to patients on Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance plans Negotiate harder with 'foreign freeloading nations' who pay less for their medicines and return those gains to the US in the form of lower drug prices for Americans through an explicit agreement with the government Offer direct purchase opportunities to consumers and businesses for high-volume drugs that currently qualify for significant rebates from drug managers, so all Americans can get the same low prices offered to third-party payers In Thursday's letter, Trump said he would use US trade policy to help drug companies negotiate higher prices with other nations but demanded the proceeds be used to lower drug costs for Americans. Companies would also have to offer certain widely used medicines directly to patients, offering them at prices that match discounts that drugmakers now give to third-party insurers. It's not clear whether Trump's latest demands would actually save US consumers money, as the proposal mostly affects newly launched drugs. Additionally, drugmakers are already required to provide substantial discounts on their drugs in order to participate in the Medicaid program. While the pharmaceutical industry has largely resisted Trump's prodding, there are some signs of bending. AstraZeneca Plc's Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot broke ranks with his pharmaceutical industry peers earlier this week and acknowledged the current situation was unsustainable. AstraZeneca, Amgen Inc., GSK Plc and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. declined to comment. A spokesperson for Lilly said the company was still reviewing the letter. A Novo spokesperson said it 'remains focused on improving patient access and affordability.' Pfizer said it's working with Congress and the White House to increase access, while Merck KGaA said it is open to collaborating with the US government toward the same goal. Trump said drugmakers must commit to providing 'immediate relief' from 'vastly inflated drug prices,' in one of the letters he posted on his social media account, addressed to Lilly Chief Executive Officer Dave Ricks.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Trump administration refers Harvard to Justice Department in civil rights probe
President Donald Trump's administration has sent a letter to Harvard University saying it has referred the university to the U.S. Justice Department to address allegations of "Harvard's antisemitic discrimination." In late June, the Trump administration said an investigation had concluded Harvard violated federal civil rights law for failing to address harassment of Jewish and Israeli students. Critics, rights experts and some faculty said such probes are a pretext to assert federal control over schools and threaten academic freedom and free speech. Harvard has been embroiled in talks and a legal fight with the Trump administration, seeking the restoration of billions of dollars of frozen federal funds for medical research and other programs. It sued the Trump administration earlier this year. "The parties' several months' engagement has been fruitless," said the letter dated Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Harvard's leadership. "OCR (Office for Civil Rights) therefore has no choice but to refer the matter to DOJ to initiate appropriate proceedings to address Harvard's antisemitic discrimination." Mr. Trump has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza. The government alleges universities allowed antisemitism during last year's pro-Palestinian protests. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. Campus protesters demanded an end to U.S. backing for Israel and a commitment that their universities will cease investing in weapons makers and companies that support Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Harvard had no immediate comment on Wednesday's letter. The university has said it aims to combat discrimination. Reports released in April by Harvard's antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces found fear and bigotry faced by Jewish, Muslim and Arab students. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia. Last week, Columbia University agreed to pay over $220 million to resolve federal probes. The New York Times has reported Harvard was open to spending up to $500 million to end its dispute with the government.
