Consumer Choices Spur Change

 

We have witnessed the 47th president weaponizing his position to redirect power and federal funding toward his radical and divisive agenda. We have seen significant chaos through the misuse of executive orders, mass firings of key personnel in essential roles, and aggressive efforts to repeal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

DEI priorities are designed to remedy inequities, discrimination, and the long-time denial of opportunities to historically underrepresented groups.The increased focus on DEI in the workplace has led to greater access to opportunities for women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Given this country’s history of exclusion for these populations, alongside sustained preferential treatment for white men, DEI efforts are still in their early stages. Marginalized groups have organized and fought for decades to achieve progress made thus far.

Within days of taking office, President Trump began to dismantle that progress. Some companies and academic institutions began to roll back their DEI commitments without openly challenging Trump’s unreasonable decrees. Businesses like Walmart, Amazon, and Target weakened their stances on DEI to comply with the Trump administration. These decisions have triggered consumer backlash, leading to multiple coordinated and uncoordinated boycotts.

After the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, Target pledged $2 billion toward increasing access for Black brands, improving the shopping experience for Black customers, and enhancing supplier diversity. However, after Trump took office, Target walked back those commitments and introduced a vague “Bullseye Belonging” strategy, which appeared to be a diluted version of their DEI initiatives.

On January 30, local organizations — including the Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and CAIR-MN — held a press conference outside Target’s Minneapolis headquarters to announce a nationwide boycott, beginning on February 1 and continuing until Target reverses its course.

Tens of thousands of consumers have participated in the protest, patronizing companies that remain committed to DEI, such as Costco. Consumers also are choosing to support small and locally owned businesses. Thousands of individuals have participated across the country in one-day and one-week boycotts.

Purchasing choices are one way we can send a clear message to companies and the Trump administration that people have power beyond the vote. Economic boycotts will likely continue well into the future.

To learn about action steps, check social media posts from Black Lives Matter Minnesota, Racial Justice Network, and CAIR-Minnesota. See also: thepeoplesunionusa.com, targetfast.org, wearesomebody.org