February 28 is marked on the calendars of millions of Americans because it could become a key date in the fight against big business. On that day, thousands of people are planning a massive boycott against Walmart, Target and Amazon, three retail giants. Why? Because they have eliminated their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies after pressure from conservative groups. The protest, dubbed the “Blackout Boycott” seeks to send a clear message: customers have the power and they are willing to use it.
In a capitalist world, where companies depend on consumers’ money, one of the best ways to protest is to stop spending money on companies that do not support these types of values. We will see how this proposal goes and what you need to know to support it.
What are DEI policies?
These policies seek to make work spaces more inclusive and fair for all people, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other personal characteristic, making work teams more diverse, fair and representative. Its acronym stands for:
- Diversity: different origins, cultures and experiences in the company. That is, not just hiring the same type of profile, but opening up to a variety of talents.
- Equity: Ensuring that all people have the same opportunities within the company, regardless of their starting point so that they have access to the same resources and opportunities.
- Inclusion: Creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, without fear of being discriminated against or excluded.
How has this boycott been prepared?
It has been through social networks, where several users shared posts urging others to participate in this blackout, however, there is no indication of who led the proposal although it is believed that it was the group called “The People’s Union” led by “TheOneCalledJai” on Instagram, who considers that this boycott is not just a symbolic act, but a way of reminding large corporations that the real power lies with the consumer and not with them.
How did this happen?
After President Trump was re-elected, a group of conservative experts was pushing for companies to eliminate these policies.
One of the groups that led this campaign was Robby Starbuck and his followers, who convinced companies like Ford, Walmart and Harley-Davidson to eliminate their DEI programs. In addition, Trump ordered an investigation into DEI policies in private companies, which increased the pressure on them, which has made these pressures even more reinforced.
Is this the first time there has been a boycott like this?
No, if there is one thing that Americans are clear about, it is that the consumer has the power, and there have already been two other companies that have suffered similar blackouts:
- Bud Light faced a boycott (by the conservative right) when it used transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a social media advertising campaign.
- Target decided to scale back its Pride collection and remove displays from the entrances of its stores after they were vandalized and its employees were harassed.
Now, at the antipode of thinking, the left in the United States is repeating the pattern to make companies believe that DEI policies are necessary. David Primo, a professor at the University of Rochester, believes that this whole problem occurs because these policies have been applied in a disorderly manner and without a clear strategy, but does that make sense to eliminate them?
How to participate in the boycott?
The action is simple: do not shop at Walmart, Target or Amazon for 24 hours on February 28. Instead, organizers recommend supporting local businesses and small businesses, encouraging a more equitable economy.
According to “TheOneCalledJai”: “We are going to remind them who has the power. One day. We remind them that this country does not belong to the elite, it belongs to the people.”
A single day without shopping may not seem like much, but if enough people join, the impact will be impossible to ignore
Black History Month
This boycott also coincides with Black History Month, which gives it additional symbolic weight. Activists such as Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer, have harshly criticized Target for abandoning its commitment to diversity, pointing out that this represents a betrayal of the African-American community.
“Target used to be an example of inclusion and diversity. That they now give in to conservative pressures is disappointing”
We will have to wait and see if this boycott works to affect the pockets of big companies, but far from having an effect, the organizers say that the main objective is to raise awareness. This could be a very important precedent in the fight for social responsibility.