Black faith leaders call for Target boycott for backing off diversity initiatives [View all]
Source: USA Today
Published 6:08 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2025 | Updated 1:47 p.m. ET Feb. 19, 2025
WASHINGTON ‒ Black faith leaders called on pastors to urge their congregations Sunday to join a 40-day boycott of Target in a campaign to push back against companies that have ditched diversity initiatives. “We've got to tell corporate America that there's a consequence for turning their back on diversity," said Bishop Reginald T. Jackson. “So let us send the message that if corporate America can't stand with us, we're not going to stand with corporate America.”
The campaign is one of several by civil rights groups, faith leaders and others to target companies they say have retreated from diversity initiatives after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government. Trump has defended these efforts, saying hiring and other practices should be based purely on merit.
Diversity advocates counter that these programs benefit everyone by removing bias from hiring and promotions to ensure that everyone has an equal shot at success. Target was one of several companies to roll back its DEI initiatives after Trump signed the order. Some had begun scaling back efforts earlier.
The faith leaders launched the boycott campaign at Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic Black church in Washington, D.C. The boycott would begin March 3 on Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent and a 40-day period of prayer and penance leading up to Easter. “If our diversity is not good, our money isn’t good,” Jackson, bishop of the AME Church’s Second District, told hundreds Monday at Metropolitan.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/19/churchgoers-40-day-boycott-target-dei/79064355007/
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