Target’s CEO Brian Cornell is set to meet with civil rights leader Rev Al Sharpton in New York this week, following a boycott call by Sharpton’s organization over the retailer’s decision to end its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The meeting comes after PepsiCo recently reversed its own DEI policies under pressure from Sharpton.
Target joins other major companies like Walmart, Amazon, and PepsiCo that have eliminated or scaled back their DEI programs. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end such programs in the federal government has sparked concerns among civil rights groups.
In January, Target announced it would discontinue its DEI goals aimed at increasing Black employees’ representation, improving Black shoppers’ experiences, and promoting Black-owned businesses. The company also stopped submitting reports on external diversity surveys. Sharpton had given PepsiCo an ultimatum to meet with his organization or face a boycott, which the company has since accepted.
A 40-day boycott of Target began in March and was organized by Rev Jamal Bryant, an Atlanta-area pastor. The meeting between Sharpton and Cornell could be a turning point for the retailer’s DEI efforts, but its impact remains to be seen.
Source: https://fortune.com/article/target-ceo-dei-boycott-sharpton-diversity-equity-inclusion-foot-traffic