Following a nationwide 24-hour economic blackout of major corporations, advocacy groups are encouraging more and more people to vote with their dollars.
A weeklong boycott of Nestlé products started Friday, and a 40-day spending freeze at Target is ongoing. A weeklong Amazon boycott also took place earlier in March.
When President Donald Trump took office in January, he immediately started rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion at the federal level while encouraging a larger culture shift. Multiple companies, like Walmart, Lowe’s and Meta have dropped their DEI programs.
Protest organizers 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.
The NAACP is urging people to shop with Black-owned businesses and others that still have DEI programs.
Here’s what Mississippi shoppers should know about boycotts at Nestle and Target, along with other movements across the country.
What we know about the Nestlé boycott
Nestlé still has a page on its website for DEI and employs a director of diversity, equity and inclusion, according to LinkedIn.
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.
“This is not just another boycott,” Schwarz said. “It is a direct hit to one of the most corrupt global corporations there is.”
What products does Nestlé own?
The company owns thousands of brands that cover a wide range of food and health care products for families and animals including water, coffee, creamer, chocolate, candy, cereal, ice cream and pet food.
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Acqua Panna mineral water.
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Carnation dessert sauces, drinks and powders.
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Starbucks Coffee at Home products.
More: DEI explained: What is DEI and why is it so divisive? What you need to know.
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.
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?
In addition to boycotts in recent weeks, more actions are planned throughout the coming months.
The People’s Union boycott will include different companies throughout the spring and into summer, according to USA TODAY. A new, broader one-day economic blackout will be on April 18 and a third is set for July 4.
An Amazon boycott was March 7-15. The Nestle one will run through March 28.
Here are the brand boycotts the group is planning:
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Walmart: April 7-14 and May 20-26.
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General Mills: April 21-28.
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.
The National Action Network, founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, has encouraged support of Costco, which has kept its commitment to DEI.
The group said in a Feb. 25 news release that it will announce an authorized boycott at the NAN Convention in early April.
“As I stood in Washington on King Day, just as Donald Trump put his hand on the bible and launched a crusade against DEI, I made it clear NAN will be thoughtful in how it identifies those who have gone back on our word to us. We have convened a council with our partners to examine what companies have reneged on DEI, what their profit margins are, and how we can use Black buying power to make a statement. We appreciate the spirit of the various efforts but the only one that I and NAN have authorized will be announced at our national convention this April.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton, Feb. 25 news release
Contributing: Cailey Gleeson, Alex Perry, Mariyam Muhammad
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Target, Nestlé boycotts are now. Amazon, Walmart protests coming soon
