Civil rights activists gathered outside Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis, calling for a national boycott of the retail giant over its decision to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The move comes after Target joined competitors Walmart and others in cutting back on their DEI programs.
Veteran civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong urged people to start boycotting on Saturday, marking the first day of Black History Month. Many participants were regular Target shoppers who felt betrayed by the company’s decision.
“We thought they would hold the line,” Levy Armstrong said. “But instead, they acted cowardly and backed down to the Trump administration.”
The boycott is being organized by local Black Lives Matter groups and includes calls for long-established civil rights organizations like the NAACP and Urban League to join the opposition.
Target has not commented on the boycott, but its chief community impact and equity officer, Kiera Fernandez, described the decision as a “next chapter” in the company’s strategy. However, activists say they expected more from Target and now feel like their support was just window dressing.
Activists plan to partner with other national organizations to promote the boycott and take further action. They also encourage Black consumers and white allies to shop directly from Black-owned businesses that sell through Target or online platforms.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/after-target-backs-away-from-diversity-programs-civil-rights-activists-call-for-a-boycott