Latest news with #EconomicBlackout2.0
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Did the Target boycott work? Could it become permanent? What to know before new freezes
A Georgia pastor wants a 40-day boycott of Target to become permanent unless the major retailer brings back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. According to foot traffic data from Target stores in Mississippi had a 13.1% year-over-year decline in traffic in March 2025. Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant points to national data to say it's a success, he wants it to keep going until the company makes changes. Nationally, most spending freezes have been tied to bringing back DEI initiatives. Multiple companies, like Walmart, Lowe's and Meta, eliminated or scaled down DEI programs, some of which were dropped last year. When President Donald Trump took office in January, he started rolling back DEI at the federal level. He also is encouraging a culture shift away from the practices, arguing America is a meritocracy. People who support the policies argue that the programs benefit women, minorities, the disabled and veterans. Those against DEI say people who don't deserve specific jobs or rewards are reaping benefits that should go to someone more deserving. Now, advocates want people to vote with their dollars. A series of small spending stops against Amazon, Walmart and Nestlé have finished, and more are scheduled later in 2025. They were spaced out among larger-scale boycotts. It all started with a nationwide 24-hour economic blackout of major corporations on Feb. 28. A 40-day spending freeze at Target just ended April 17. The three-day Economic Blackout 2.0 just ended on Sunday, April 20. A seven-day boycott of General Mills products is also happening now. Unlike other economic protests trying to bring back DEI, this one has a different goal. The NAACP also urges people to shop with Black-owned businesses and others that still have DEI programs. Here's what you should know about the Target and General Mills boycotts, other economic protests planned across the country later in 2025 and the potential effectiveness of the boycotts. The Target boycott was organized by Bryant and other faith leaders. They encourage people to avoid shopping at the major retail chain in stores and online for the duration of Lent. They also ask investors to sell off their Target stock. It started on Ash Wednesday, March 5 and ended April 17. After the fast, Bryant shared updated at He thanked about 150,000 people who signed the petition, and he said Target's valuation fell by $2 billion, stock dropped by 57% and the company lost $4 billion since January. On March 5, Target stock was valued at $116.56 per share. At its lowest value during the freeze, it was valued at $88.76 per share, and it rebounded to $93.11 by April 17. In February 2025, Target's foot traffic was down 9.5% compared to the year before, according to In March, it was down 6.5% year over year. "We are entering a new phase of this movement. What began as the Target FAST — a moral witness and urgent call for justice — now evolves into a full Target BOYCOTT. This shift marks not an end, but a deepening of our commitment to justice and accountability," Bryant shared. "Until Target comes to the table with serious, concrete proposals to meet our four demands, we will remain in this posture. Silence and delay are no longer acceptable. Our communities deserve action, not platitudes. Our demands are not radical — they are righteous, reasonable, and long overdue." The General Mills boycott is set for April 21-28. John Schwarz, the Chicago man who formed People's Union USA, said the major food company has toxic ingredients and dodges its fair share of taxes in addition to lobbying against transparency in GMO labeling. "General Mills represents everything that is wrong with the corporate grip on our food system," Schwarz said in a Sunday, April 20, video. "This is a company that owns half the cereal aisle. Floods our stores with ultra-processed garbage and targets our children with sugary poison." Schwarz, in his April 20 video, called General Mills "a symbol of unchecked corporate power." He said the company has disenfranchised farmers and contributes to the plastic pollution crisis. He and People's Union USA are encouraging shoppers to skip all products made by the large company. The group also led a seven-day boycott of Nestlé products earlier this year. But Schwarz listed multiple reasons for targeting the Swiss company in a March 17 Instagram video. Among other complaints, he cited the corporation continuing to use child labor in chocolate production. It also has drawn criticism for the low prices it pays for the water it uses when communities, like Flint, Michigan, need affordable, clean water. The company name is mostly associated with cereals. Several iconic breakfast options are under the brand umbrella, but General Mills owns many other brands that cover a wide range of food products for families' baking needs, snacks and more. (They also make Blue Buffalo dog food.) Cheerios. Chex. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Cocoa Puffs. Cookie Crisp. Golden Grahams. Kix. Monster Cereals: Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry, Carmella Creeper. Raisin Nut Bran. Reese's Puffs. Total. Trix. Wheaties. Annie's. Betty Crocker. Bisquick. Gold Medal. Green Giant. Old El Paso. Pillsbury. Autumns' Gold. Bugles. Chex Mix. Dunkaroos. EPIC. Fiber One. Gardetto's. Häagen-Dazs. Larabar. Nature Valley. Oui. Progresso. Totino's. Yoplait. Boycotts have been used across the political spectrum to make a point. For example, in 2023 Bud Light sales dropped. Conservatives and anti-LGBTQIA+ activists called for a boycott after the brand partnered with Dylan Mulvaney, who is transgender, for a promotion. Information on the Feb. 28 one-day blackout is mixed. Some trackers show an uptick in the number of sales while other metrics showed less traffic to online sales sites. Data from Cardlytics, a commerce media platform that can access about half of all U.S. card-based transactions, showed no significant impact on consumer spending. In fact, more people might have shopped than normal. "Cardlytics' consumer spend data from the first economic blackout in February actually showed an uptick in consumer activity: total spend rose 12%, transactions increased 16%, and the number of shoppers were up nearly 12% compared to the same day in 2024," Owen Braun, Head of Client Analytics at Cardlytics, said in a statement. "While overall spend increased, spend per consumer stayed flat — which reinforces the fact that more people made purchases, not just that prices have increased or that the same consumers spent more.' Momentum Commerce, a digital retail consultancy company, also saw slightly higher Amazon sales than usual on Feb. 28. It was about 1% higher when compared to the previous eight Fridays. Similarweb, a digital marketing intelligence company, found that the top 100 e-commerce sites had about 6% less traffic on Feb. 28 than a year before. Traffic was down about 4% compared to the week before. also tracked foot traffic in stores and saw decreases that day in Target, Walmart and Starbucks. More: DEI explained: What is DEI and why is it so divisive? What you need to know. The People's Union economic protests will include different companies throughout the spring and into summer, according to USA TODAY. A third large-scale economic blackout is set for July 4. More boycotts and other actions are planned throughout the coming months. Organizers hope to gain momentum after other smaller-scale protests. Most of the protests argue that the businesses should reinstate DEI polices. Here are more brand boycotts the group is planning: Amazon: May 6-12. Walmart: May 20-26. Target: June 3-9. McDonald's: June 24-30. Social media posts — using #LatinoFreezeMovement and #LatinoFreeze — have also encouraged Hispanic consumers to "hold your money" to make statements about DEI initiatives, National Institutes of Health funding and immigration actions. The National Action Network, founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, has encouraged support of Costco, which has kept its commitment to DEI. On April 4, Sharpton announced he was giving PepsiCo leadership three weeks to meet and discuss their decision to drop DEI and threatened a later boycott. The brand includes many products, more than just Pepsi sodas, such as Mountain Dew, 7Up, Gatorade, Quaker and Frito-Lay chips. Earlier this year, the company said it was ending minority representation goals in its workforce. On April 15, NAN announced that Sharpton and other members met with PepsiCo Chairman Ramon Laguarta and CEO of PepsiCo North America Steven Williams. Follow-up meeting were reportedly scheduled in the following days. NAN Chairman Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and Sharpton were to make an announcement on PepsiCo soon. Contributing: Rea Li Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Target freeze over DEI could be permanent boycott. What to know in MS
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Good Friday shopping boycott: Protest over stores dropping DEI policies runs through Easter
Starting on Good Friday, April 18, consumers across the United States plan to stop consuming through Easter Sunday, April 20. At least at big box stores. The planned boycott, dubbed "Economic Blackout 2.0," follows a recent weeklong boycott of Walmart, "40-day fast" of Target, boycotts of Amazon and Nestlé, and the first Economic Blackout, a 23-hour spending freeze. The nationwide efforts are in protest of the retail giants' decisions to roll back their DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — policies under pressure from a conservative activist. The changes came before President Donald Trump returned to office and began systematically eliminating federal DEI programs. While Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant and other Black faith leaders called for the Target boycott, which ends when the Christian observance of Lent does on April 17, others, such as Economic Blackout 2.0, have been promoted by The People's Union USA. "This blackout is about taking our power back," the organization said on its website. "It's about reminding every corrupt entity that we don't need them, they need us." Similarweb, a digital marketing intelligence company, analyzed data from the date of the first Economic Blackout in February and found that overall traffic at the top 100 e-commerce sites was down 6% year over year. Another retail consultant, Momentum Commerce, said that Amazon sales for the day were up 1% over the previous eight Fridays. Economic Blackout 2.0 runs from 12:01 a.m. April 18 through April 20. "On blackout days, avoid shopping, streaming, online orders, fast food, and everything in between," the site said. It's recommended. "Only support independent small businesses if you truly need something. Otherwise, lock it down," the site said. The People's Union USA has more consumer boycotts planned through July. Here's the schedule: General Mills: April 21-28 Amazon: May 6-12 Target: June 3-9 McDonald's: June 24-30 Independence Day boycott: July 4 Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a term used to describe programs and policies that encourage fairer representation and participation for groups that have been historically and systematically marginalized, such as Black people, women, LGBTQ+ community members, disabled people and ethnic minorities in the United States. DEI programs in business are intended to make sure that everyone — especially groups that have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against — receives fair treatment and that differences are embraced to improve relations and teamwork and increase cultural sensitivity. In education, DEI typically refers to strategies, policies and practices that provide all students equal access to educational opportunities, regardless of their background, identity or abilities. DEI programs exploded in popularity during the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, especially after the murder of George Floyd and several other Black Americans led to worldwide protests against racism. Critics claim DEI programs prioritize underrepresented people in categories including race, ethnicity and gender to the exclusion of more qualified candidates and treat them as anti-white, anti-male, ideologically driven policies that serve as racial discrimination against white Americans, with some even saying they contribute to antisemitism. Supporters say anti-DEI advocates see only white men as capable and intelligent and assume all women and people of color, no matter how qualified, are only in a position of power due to quotas. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DEI shopping boycott on Good Friday. What stores targets of protests
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Economic Blackout 2.0 boycott to take place this weekend
An activist group that says it seeks to hold corporations accountable is organizing a three-day, nationwide "economic blackout" from Good Friday through Easter that calls on consumers to boycott "big box" retailers. Instead, People's Union USA is urging you to buy from local retailers. Will it make a difference? It's not clear. The New York Times has reported on People's Union USA founder John Schwarz's past as a registered sex offender and raised questions about the money the group is raising through donations and T-shirt sales, which Schwarz respond to by saying it would "go toward future operational costs, including payroll, expansion, and ensuring this movement keeps growing and thriving." In addition to the planned blackout, other groups have also organized boycotts to protest companies that have cut their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and to oppose President Donald Trump's moves to eliminate such programs. There's an ongoing "40-day fast" of Target, spearheaded by Black faith leaders, and consumers have also been taking part in a targeted week-long boycott of Walmart, which concludes today, Gannett news outlets have reported. The People's Union, which said it is organized as a limited liability company, also has a long list of grievances that it said on its website it is seeking to address, including worker exploitation, price gouging, unethical practices and tax avoidance. The People's Union's second protest, which it has dubbed Economic Blackout 2.0, follows a smaller-scale boycott in February that encouraged Americans to stop spending for 24 hours to resist the influence of big corporations, billionaires and both major political parties. After the initial boycott, the Associated Press reported there was "no clear indication of how many people took part or whether national retailers and restaurant chains noticed any effect from the grassroots protest." One assessment by Marshal Cohen, the chief retail advisor at market research firm Circana, that was based on calls with retail executives, showed no visible retrenchment by consumers midway through the boycott, the AP reported. More: Some consumers are preparing for an economic blackout on Feb. 28: what to know Still, the activist group said on its website that it uses economic boycotts "because they work," and "money is the only language the system understands." It added that 'we don't need to riot or protest in the streets to be heard,' and 'when we pull our dollars, we pull their power.' Social media postings also suggest there's interest in the boycott and it's possible a second, slightly longer boycott could have a bigger impact than the first. The People's Union, which has a list of companies that it is critical of, including Chevron, Nike, Starbucks, Google, Microsoft and Meta, formerly Facebook, said it also plans upcoming boycotts targeting General Mills, Amazon, Walmart, Target and McDonald's. Group leader John Schwarz, who is in his 50s, describes himself in a biography on the group's website as "just a man who's lived through enough, seen the truth with my own eyes, and decided to do something about it." He added that he started the group because he feels "this system is rigged, that we're being used, that the human spirit was not meant for this kind of industrial slavery,' and has 'finally reached the point where doing nothing was no longer an option." The biography goes into detail about being raised in New York's Pomonok projects, having an "abusive and unstable" home life in which his parents divorced, and working at 13 "to survive, not for dreams or goals, just to eat." But Schwarz was also a registered sex offender who pleaded guilty to "disseminating voyeuristic material" and was sentenced in 2007 to jail and probation after pleading guilty, according to news reports. Schwarz acknowledged to the New York Times he was convicted and added it was "something that never should have happened and it is completely fabricated" and called the incident "a big scam." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Activist group sets stage for Economic Blackout 2.0 boycott
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A 3-day spending boycott starts tomorrow. What you can buy, not buy during the boycott
An economic blackout scheduled to last three days starts tomorrow, following the end of the 40-day Target boycott, which coincides with the end of Lent. These economic blackouts are a result of consumer pushback as major corporations backtrack on their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The second larger-scale spending freeze, similar to the 24-hour economic blackout that took place on Feb. 28, will kick off on Friday as the "Economic Blackout 2.0." Here's what to know about the three-day economic blackout starting April 18. The next economic boycott will take place on Friday, April 18, and extends through Sunday, April 20, from Good Friday through the Easter holiday. Organizers of this boycott are urging Americans to change their spending habits at all major companies as a means to protest "corporate greed." The most recent boycott was the 40-day Target boycott that overlapped with Lent, which ends on April 17. The People's Union USA, a grassroots organization that has been working since 2020 to promote economic resistance and improve government accountability and corporate practices, has organized the economic blackout days. They organized and promoted spending freezes in response to President Donald Trump's call to end federal DEI programs and threaten tariffs on international imports. The boycott aims to target major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. Economic blackout participants will refrain from making any in-store and online purchases from major retailers, restaurants, large banks, fast food companies, and gas stations from April 18-20. The organization also encourages avoiding the use of credit or debit cards. The boycott targets non-essential spending. However, spending on essential goods, such as food, medicine, paying bills, and emergency supplies, is allowed during the blackout. The People's Union says to only shop at local small businesses during that time, if necessary. Organized by megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant and other faith leaders, the 40-day spending fast/boycott was in protest of Target's decision to pull back its DEI initiatives. The 40-day Target boycott began after more than 50,000 people signed a petition against the retailer. Pastor Jamal Bryant of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta launched the initiative. Additionally, the NAACP urged customers to support not only Black businesses but also businesses that maintain their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. "The greatest insult comes from Target, which pledged to spend over $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025, only to find out that Target stopped the program at the start of the year," the boycott's website reads. "Black people spend over $12 million a day at Target." According to a story by USA Today, there are 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 This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What you can and can't buy during 3-day no-spend economic blackout
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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 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
