Target CEO Brian Cornell met with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton in New York to discuss the company’s decision to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The meeting comes after several weeks of declining foot traffic at Target stores following the retailer’s announcement that it would walk away from some DEI initiatives.
Sharpton has not called for a boycott of Target but may consider one if the company doesn’t reaffirm its commitment to Black businesses, employees, and consumers. Sharpton expressed his concern over the decision, stating that it was “insulting” to say that everything is fine now because the election changed.
The meeting was prompted by calls from civil rights groups for a boycott of Target, with some urging consumers not to shop at the retailer’s stores in response to its decision. Sharpton said he would consider calling for a boycott if the company doesn’t confirm its commitment to the Black community and pledge to work with and invest in Black-owned businesses.
The decline in foot traffic has been attributed to the backlash against Target’s DEI program changes, as well as other issues affecting the retailer’s sales performance. Cornell acknowledged that the company’s annual revenue has been flat for four years, and the pressure on margins has increased due to changing consumer behavior.
Sharpton also expressed his disappointment with the company’s weak guidance for the first quarter and its expected 1% growth in sales for the full year. He questioned whether everything had changed for the better since the George Floyd movement, which prompted Cornell to step up Target’s efforts to fight racial inequities in 2021.
The meeting highlights the growing pressure on companies to address concerns around diversity, equity and inclusion, particularly from conservative activists who have urged them to drop DEI policies. Costco, a membership-based wholesale club, has so far maintained its commitment to DEI initiatives despite similar pressure from these groups.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/17/target-ceo-to-meet-with-al-sharpton-after-dei-rollback.html