Consumers to boycott companies retreating from DEI. Here’s what we know.
Consumers are planning to boycott certain companies retreating from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
- Multiple boycotts are planned throughout spring and summer targeting major companies that have dropped DEI programs.
- Advocacy groups are organizing the boycotts and encouraging shoppers to support businesses that promote diversity and inclusion.
- The boycotts include a weeklong Walmart blackout starting April 7 and a 40-day Target boycott that runs through April 17.
- Organizers hope the boycotts will pressure companies to reinstate DEI programs and address other concerns.
A new, seven-day economic protest targeting Walmart over its decision to drop diversity, equity and inclusion policies is happening now. Other brands and major retailers have already faced a similar spending freeze. Organizers want companies to bring back DEI efforts or change other stances, and more boycotts and blackouts are planned through spring and summer.
Advocacy groups started with a nationwide 24-hour economic blackout of major corporations on Feb. 28. A 40-day spending freeze at Target is ongoing through Lent until the week of Easter, and a weeklong boycott of Nestlé products ended on March 28.
Recently, the Rev. Al Sharpton said he and the National Action Network will soon call for a boycott of PepsiCo products if the company doesn’t restore its DEI policies.
When President Donald Trump took office in January, he immediately started rolling back DEI at the federal level while encouraging a larger culture shift. Multiple companies, like Walmart, Lowe’s and Meta have dropped their DEI programs.
The NAACP is urging people to shop with Black-owned businesses and others that still have DEI programs.
Protest organizers from multiple groups are mostly targeting major brands that have stopped DEI work, hoping to show them that shoppers want to support brands that help women, minorities, the disabled and veterans. But some protests, like against Nestlé, target other issues.
John Schwarz, the Chicago man who formed the People’s Union USA, listed multiple reasons for targeting the Swiss company in a March 17 Instagram video. Among other reasons, 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.
Here’s what Mississippi shoppers should know about the ongoing Walmart boycott and the one at Target, along with other economic protests across the country this spring and summer.
What we know about the weeklong Walmart boycott
The Walmart blackout will start Monday, April 7, and run through April 14. It is targeted at all Walmart stores, affiliated brands and store brands.
“Now it’s time to hit even harder. Walmart is one of the biggest beasts in the game. A mega-corporation that has swallowed up local economies, crushed small businesses, underpaid their employees, and helped fund the same political machine that keeps us all stuck,” Schwartz wrote on his website.
The People’s Union is asking people to avoid shopping at Walmart online or in stores, Sam’s Club locations and using services like Walmart+ or MoneyCard.
He also wants people to skip buying their private label food and other products:
- Great Value: Food and home/cleaning supplies.
- Equate: Health products.
- Mainstays: home products, kitchen goods, appliances and furniture.
- George: Clothes.
- Parent’s Choice: baby and kid products.
How many Walmart and Sam’s Club stores are in Mississippi?
Walmart has one fulfillment center, three distribution centers and 86 retail locations in Mississippi, according to the company website.
They include:
- 65 Supercenters.
- 3 Discount Stores.
- 10 Neighborhood Markets.
- 7 Sam’s Clubs
- 1 Pharmacy.
The company employs about 25,640 associates in the state, and it collected about $468.9 million in taxes for the state in fiscal year 2024. Walmart pays about $97.6 million in taxes in Mississippi.
National Action Network considers starting Pepsi boycott soon
The National Action Network, founded by Sharpton, has encouraged support of Costco, which has kept its commitment to DEI.
Last week, Sharpton announced he was giving PepsiCo leadership three weeks to meet and discuss their decision to drop DEI and threatened a later boycott.
Earlier this year, the company announced it was ending minority representation goals in its workforce.
The brand includes many products, more than just Pepsi sodas, such as Mountain Dew, 7Up, Gatorade, Quaker and Frito-Lay chips.
What we know about the 40-day ‘Target fast’ boycott
The Target boycott was organized by Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant and other faith leaders. They encourage people to avoid shopping at the major retail chain for the duration of Lent. They also ask investors to sell off their Target stock.
It started on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and is encouraging people to skip Target through April 17. Additional information is available at targetfast.org.
40-day ‘Target Fast’ underway to boycott Target DEI rollbacks
Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant, leading the “Target Fast,” urges Target executives to restore DEI policies, hoping the boycott forces a reversal.
How many Target stores are in Mississippi?
There are Target locations in six Mississippi cities, according to its store directory.
What boycotts are coming up?
The People’s Union boycott will include different companies throughout the spring and into summer, according to USA TODAY. A new, broader economic blackout will be on April 18-20 and a third 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. An Amazon boycott was March 7-15. The Nestlé one ran March 21-28.
Here are more brand boycotts the group is planning:
- Walmart: April 7-14 and May 20-26.
- General Mills: April 21-28.
- Amazon: May 6-12.
- 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.
Contributing: Cailey Gleeson, Alex Perry, Mariyam Muhammad, Rea Li
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
