California consumers boycotting major retailers on Good Friday, Easter 2025: Here's why
Many consumers nationwide plan to take part in a three-day economic blackout from Good Friday through the Easter holiday, with organizers urging Americans to break spending habits at "all companies" to protest what they have called corporate greed.
The second larger-scale spending freeze following a 24-hour economic blackout on Feb. 28, dubbed Economic Blackout 2.0, will kick off on Friday.
The blackout will coincide with the holiday weekend and amid an ongoing "40-day fast" of Target, spearheaded by Black faith leaders. Consumers have also been taking part in a targeted week-long boycott of Walmart, which concluded on April 14.
The People's Union USA has been rallying consumers to avoid retail giants that have scaled back on their diversity, equity and inclusion programs since President Donald Trump's DEI cuts. The group, led by John Schwarz, was behind the Feb. 28 blackout that later expanded to Amazon and Nestlé, and will continue through spring and summer.
Here's what California shoppers should know.
The economic protest, dubbed the "Economic Blackout 2.0" by The People's Union USA, starts on Friday, April 18 and extends through Sunday, April 20.
During the three-day spending freeze, consumers are urged not to buy from any major retailers – including groceries and gas, as well as shopping in stores and online at "big box" stores including Walmart and Amazon, as well as what they have called "questionable" practices at Starbucks.
The People's Union USA has been rallying consumers to speak through their wallets by avoiding throwing cash into purchases at big-name retailers to malign the influence of billionaires and corporations who they say "hoard wealth, while the working class struggles."
The grassroots organization has taken aim at a growing list of companies they say "have been repeatedly criticized for tax avoidance, poor labor practices, lobbying against workers' rights, or manipulating pricing during inflation."
Consumers are urged to shop at local businesses for their Easter necessities, such as local farmer's markets for fresh fruit or vegetables or locally owned grocery stores, delis or markets. Others have suggested stores that have not rolled back their DEI policies, including Costco, Trader Joe's and Aldi.
While difficult to gauge, data from several firms suggested the Feb. 28 blackout had "some potential impact" on sales for large retailers including Target, Walmart and Amazon, according to a USA TODAY report.
The Walmart blackout ends today, Monday, April 14. The People's Union USA asked consumers to avoid spending at any Walmart stores or supercenters, online, on apps, through subscription services as well as at its affiliates, including Sam's Club.
The Target boycott was organized by an Atlanta pastor and other faith leaders and encourages shoppers to not spend at the retail chain through the 40-day season of Lent, which ends at sundown on Thursday, April 17. It is not affiliated with the People's Union USA.
Schwarz has also outlined several dates for blackouts or boycotts this spring and summer:
Second economic blackout: April 18-20
General Mills boycott: April 21-28
Second Amazon boycott: May 6-12
Second Walmart boycott: May 20-26
Target boycott: June 3-9
McDonald's boycott: June 24-30
Independence Day boycott: July 4
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a concept that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups that are "underrepresented or subject of discrimination because of their background, identity and disability," according to Dictionary.com.
Many businesses and agencies rushed DEI programs into place in the wake of the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police during an arrest, but diversity practices have been around for decades, dating back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What to know about 'Economic Blackout 2.0' in California
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