Latest news with #LatinoFreeze
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are Target DEI boycotts working? Here's what company documents say
Soon after President Donald Trump took office in late January, Target announced it would end programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Initiatives axed include a program aimed at increasing representation of Black employees, as well as a commitment to source more products from Black-owned businesses. Target said it had already planned to end the programs, which it sets in three-year cycles. Target is among over 30 major retailers that ended DEI programs after Trump issued an executive order requiring both federal government and private companies to end "illegal DEI" efforts, although the difference between those and legal anti-discrimination efforts remains unclear. Target has faced pushback from consumers upset with the DEI rollback. A national Target boycott in honor of Black History Month began Feb. 1, led by Minnesota activists. The ongoing Latino Freeze movement asks Latinos to stop spending money at Target and other major retailers that cut DEI. A 40-day boycott during Lent led by Black church leaders ended April 17. As the protests against Target enter their third month, are they working? Here's what to know. The boycotts have damaged Target's reputation, which the company acknowledged in its most recent annual report. Every publicly traded company is required to file an annual report on financial performance with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Called Form 10-K, the report includes potential risks for investors. In Target's 10-K filing for fiscal year 2024, which ended in February, the company acknowledged the potential for boycotts to harm business. "To be successful in the future, we must continue to preserve Target's reputation. Our reputation is largely based on perceptions," the document states. The form goes on to acknowledge that Target "modified and concluded" certain of its DEI initiatives, leading to "adverse reactions" from some shareholders, customers and employees. "As a result, we may experience adverse perceptions of our business, consumer boycotts, litigation, investigations, and regulatory proceedings. Any of these outcomes could negatively impact our reputation, results of operations, and financial condition," the form states. Target has not released a statement on the boycotts, but on April 17, CNBC reported that Target's CEO Brian Cornell will meet with civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton to discuss the company's stance on DEI. Target's press office did not respond to a request for comment. Target's sales data for February through April is not yet available. However, foot traffic, or the amount of people entering Target stores, is a proxy for sales. In February 2025, the first month of boycotts, Target's foot traffic was down 9.5%, according to The week of March 31, Target's store traffic was down 7.9% compared to the previous year, Newsweek reported. In Arizona, foot traffic in March was down 7% compared to a year ago, according to Target's stock price is also down. On April 14, it hit the lowest point in five years at $94. At the end of January, the price per share was $142. Reach the reporter at Follow @reia_reports on Instagram. The full list: These 30 companies rolled back DEI policies, from Amazon to Victoria's Secret This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Target boycott impact: What company documents reveal
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Black And Latine Shoppers Continue To Boycott Target — And It Might Be Working. Here's Why.
For Kryztal Peña, a Target run used to be her weekly ritual. Peña, a Chicago-based hospital researcher and mom of two young children, loved going to the store as her 'stress coping mechanism' to walk the aisles, buy diapers and get her family out of the house. But since February, she has not done her shopping there. After Donald Trump got re-elected, Target, one of the nation's largest retailers, said in January that it would end the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals it had made to hire and promote more women and people of color, as well as to recruit more diverse suppliers to stay 'in step with the evolving external landscape,' according to a company memo sent to employees. Peña saw social media posts about the 'Latino Freeze' to protest Target's actions and decided to follow suit by boycotting the store. The first two weeks were hard. 'I definitely did miss it, but it is what it is,' she said. But she has since created new habits. Now, when Peña is low on diapers, she shops at Costco, a brand that has won praise for continuing to honor DEI principles when many companies have rolled theirs back. Peña said it would take much more than an apology at this point to get her to go back to Target. 'A statement now ― it's too far gone,' she said. 'It would take a big push where you're actually trying to reach out to Black and brown small businesses, and trying to incorporate them into your business again.' Peña is one of the many people who are joining boycott movements led by Black and Latine organizers against the retailer due to its decision to end DEI programs. And it might actually be working. One-day, no-shopping pledges like the 'economic blackout' earlier this year can face criticism for being more symbolic than effective. But a long-term boycott of a store can actually spark lasting change. Nina Turner leads a labor advocacy group called We Are Somebody and is one of the organizers calling for an indefinite boycott of Target. Turner said one of her reasons for starting her group's boycott was because Target 'lied to the Black community,' pointing to CEO Brian Cornell's statements after George Floyd's murder. After Floyd was murdered by police near Target's headquarters in 2020, Cornell said that Floyd 'could have been one of my Target team members.' In the months after Floyd's death, Target pledged to increase its Black workforce by 20% and to dedicate $10 million toward 'advancing social justice.' But just a few years later, Target walked back this pledge when it ended its DEI initiatives in January. 'Target, more than other companies … made a specific promise to the Black community, and then they bent to bigotry,' Turner said. After Target's DEI rollback this year, Turner joined forces with an Atlanta-area pastor, the Rev. Jamal Bryant, and activist Tamika Mallory to popularize a 40-day Target 'fast' to coincide with the Christian observance of Lent. Right before Easter, the three leaders met with a Target executive to see if Target would 'do the right thing,' Turner said, and restore its commitments to the Black community, invest in Black businesses and not penalize its workers. But they left the meeting with Target feeling as though nothing would change. So the three are now calling on customers to boycott all Target stores indefinitely. Target disputes that it has dropped its commitment to inclusion. 'At Target, we have an ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all team members, guests, and suppliers. It's core to how we support and grow our business,' a Target spokesperson told HuffPost when asked about the claims of Target caving to bigotry. 'We remain focused on supporting organizations and creating opportunities for people in the 2,000 communities where we live and operate.' But until Target changes its DEI policies, boycotts like these will continue. 'The Black community is serious about this boycott, and it's going to continue. We're building a Black-brown coalition as we go,' Turner said. Pediatric surgeon Dr. Michael Galvez is one of the co-organizers of the 'Latino Freeze' movement that is urging Latines to take advantage of their purchasing power and redirect it toward brands that support DEI. Galvez said the 'Latino Freeze' boycott of Target was, in part, inspired by Turner's work: 'I don't want to buy at Target if they've stopped all these initiatives,' he said. And the more groups that boycott Target, the stronger this movement becomes. Trevon Logan, a professor of economics at Ohio State University, said that a 'coordinated response' from multiple groups like the ones led by Black clergy, civil rights leaders and the 'Latino freeze' organizers can make a difference because it 'reflects a strategy that is focused and could serve as a signal to other retailers in this space.' When Turner first launched a boycott of Target earlier this year, it coincided with Black History Month. During that time, Target's foot traffic went down 6.5% compared to its year-over-year performance, while Costco's shot up 7.5%. Turner said Target's CEO Cornell has now 'found out' what happens when you dismiss 'the power of the Black dollar and the power of Black people's commitment to not be taken advantage by corporations like him.' Foot traffic at Target stores, in general, has dropped for 11 straight weeks, according to while foot traffic at Costco has been steadily increasing over the past 16 weeks. Target did not respond to questions about whether a reported drop in foot traffic can be linked to its decision to end DEI programs. 'We will have to see what the first and second quarter results are, but foot traffic is a real-time indicator of consumer response,' Logan said, noting the importance of Costco, which continues to defend DEI, seeing its foot traffic increase. Beyond foot traffic, retailers also pay attention to brand loyalty ― and that can be one of the biggest strengths of a months-long boycott. The longer people go without shopping at Target, the more likely they are to realize they don't need to shop there ever again. 'It can be difficult to win back a customer who has become disaffected,' Logan said. 'If consumption patterns change and consumers settle into a new pattern, it becomes less about the boycott and much more about how the firm can attract new customers and old customers.' Galvez said it would take a major public apology from Target and reinvestment in racial minority groups and LGBTQ+ communities for him to consider shopping at Target again. But for now, he won't. 'This could be generational,' Galvez said. 'I'm teaching my kids: 'We don't go to Target anymore.'' Friday's No-Shopping 'Economic Blackout' Is Everywhere Online — And Experts Have Thoughts Worried About A 'Trumpcession'? Here's What Finance Experts Say You Should Do Now. We Work In DEI. Trump's Wild Anti-Diversity Claims Are Spreading Popular Lies.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A week-long Amazon boycott began Friday. What to know in Wisconsin
Consumers across the country, including in Wisconsin, are participating in a weeklong boycott of Amazon beginning Friday, the latest in a series of spending freezes protesting the reversal of DEI initiatives at major corporations across the U.S. The boycott, organized by the same activists who planned the 24-hour economic spending blackout on Feb. 28, will last through Friday, March 14. It seeks to significantly drive down sales at the online retailer in response to the its decision to end DEI efforts at the corporation. There are even more boycotts on the way for other companies, including several other weeklong actions, another economic spending blackout and a 40-day Target fast. Here's what to know: The Feb. 28 economic blackout, organized by The People's Union USA, and subsequent boycotts on Amazon, Target and other retailers were planned to protest the major corporations rolling back DEI policies. Amazon made news in January after Bloomberg reported the retailer was halting its DEI policies, a move that was announced in an internal note to employees. The company also removed all mentions of diversity and inclusion from its annual report in February. More: A 40-day boycott of Target begins this week. Here's what Wisconsinites should know about it It is difficult to gauge the economic impact of a 24-hour action with data. However, USA TODAY collected information from several different firms that shows both the boycott had some potential impact in affecting in-person and e-commerce traffic at some retailers. Amazon sales stayed roughly the same. More: What are the results from the Feb. 28 economic blackout? See what data shows. A 40-day Target boycott kicked off on Wednesday and will run until April 17, or the end of Lent. The People's Union has several other boycotts planned throughout spring, USA TODAY reported. After Amazon, a boycott of Nestle is scheduled for March 21 to March 28 while a Walmart boycott is slated for April 7 to April 14. A second, broader one-day economic blackout is also slated for April 18. The group is then calling for a General Mills boycott from April 21 to April 28. Social media posts — using #LatinoFreezeMovement and #LatinoFreeze — have also encouraged consumers to "hold your money'' amid freezes on DEI initiatives, National Institutes of Health funding and immigration actions. The National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, also said in a Feb. 25 news release that it will announce an authorized boycott at the NAN Convention in early April. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amazon boycott: What to know about 7-day spending freeze in Wisconsin
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A week-long Amazon boycott began Friday. What to know in Wisconsin
Consumers across the country, including in Wisconsin, are participating in a weeklong boycott of Amazon beginning Friday, the latest in a series of spending freezes protesting the reversal of DEI initiatives at major corporations across the U.S. The boycott, organized by the same activists who planned the 24-hour economic spending blackout on Feb. 28, will last through Friday, March 14. It seeks to significantly drive down sales at the online retailer in response to the its decision to end DEI efforts at the corporation. There are even more boycotts on the way for other companies, including several other weeklong actions, another economic spending blackout and a 40-day Target fast. Here's what to know: The Feb. 28 economic blackout, organized by The People's Union USA, and subsequent boycotts on Amazon, Target and other retailers were planned to protest the major corporations rolling back DEI policies. Amazon made news in January after Bloomberg reported the retailer was halting its DEI policies, a move that was announced in an internal note to employees. The company also removed all mentions of diversity and inclusion from its annual report in February. More: A 40-day boycott of Target begins this week. Here's what Wisconsinites should know about it It is difficult to gauge the economic impact of a 24-hour action with data. However, USA TODAY collected information from several different firms that shows both the boycott had some potential impact in affecting in-person and e-commerce traffic at some retailers. Amazon sales stayed roughly the same. More: What are the results from the Feb. 28 economic blackout? See what data shows. A 40-day Target boycott kicked off on Wednesday and will run until April 17, or the end of Lent. The People's Union has several other boycotts planned throughout spring, USA TODAY reported. After Amazon, a boycott of Nestle is scheduled for March 21 to March 28 while a Walmart boycott is slated for April 7 to April 14. A second, broader one-day economic blackout is also slated for April 18. The group is then calling for a General Mills boycott from April 21 to April 28. Social media posts — using #LatinoFreezeMovement and #LatinoFreeze — have also encouraged consumers to "hold your money'' amid freezes on DEI initiatives, National Institutes of Health funding and immigration actions. The National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, also said in a Feb. 25 news release that it will announce an authorized boycott at the NAN Convention in early April. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amazon boycott: What to know about 7-day spending freeze in Wisconsin
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
40-day boycott of Target starts this week. Amazon, Walmart boycotts over DEI coming soon
A 40-day Target boycott kicked off on Wednesday in protest of the company rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — just days after a nationwide 24-hour economic blackout of major corporations. Several companies, including Walmart, Lowe's and Meta, have reversed DEI initiatives in recent months. Some companies rolled back efforts even prior to President Donald Trump taking action to eliminate federal DEI programs upon his return to office. The boycott, organized by Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant and other faith leaders, encourages consumers to refrain from buying anything from Target for 40 days, which is also the duration of Lent. According to the initiative's website, it also asks investors to sell any Target stock they may own. Target is not the only retailer being targeted in current and upcoming boycotts. Beginning on Friday, March 7, a week-long boycott of Amazon will begin — organized by the group behind the 24-hour economic blackout — as well as a Nestle boycott beginning on Friday, March 21, among others. Here's what Mississippi shoppers should know. The faith community's 40-day boycott is in protest of the retailer's decision to reverse DEI initiatives. It began on Wednesday, March 5, and will continue for 40 days to align with Lent, which ends on Thursday, April 17. Organizers created to offer information on the boycott. "This is a fast for accountability," the boycott's website said. "A fast for justice. A fast for a future where corporations do not bow to pressure at the expense of marginalized communities." The NAACP has urged customers to instead support Black businesses as well as businesses that have maintained DEI programs. There are Target locations in six Mississippi cities, according to its store directory. D'Iberville. Flowood. Hattiesburg. Horn Lake. Jackson. Olive Branch. More: DEI explained: What is DEI and why is it so divisive? What you need to know. In addition to boycotts in recent weeks, several more actions are planned throughout the coming months. The People's Union has since expanded its boycott to include other actions at different points throughout the spring, USA TODAY reported. These include boycotts of Amazon (March 7-14), Nestle (March 21-28), Walmart (April 7-14). A second, broader one-day economic blackout is also slated for April 18. Social media posts — using #LatinoFreezeMovement and #LatinoFreeze — have also encouraged consumers to "hold your money'' amid freezes on DEI initiatives, National Institutes of Health funding and immigration actions. The National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, also said in a Feb. 25 news release that it will announce an authorized boycott at the NAN Convention in early April. USA TODAY reporter Betty Lin-Fisher contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Target boycott to last 40 days. Amazon, Walmart protests coming soon
