It’s not looking good for Target. The retailer saw a drop in foot traffic for an 11th consecutive week after ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Atlanta pastor Jamaal Bryant, who spearheaded a 40-day Target “fast” during Lent, called for a “full boycott” earlier in the week.
“Until Target comes to the table with serious, concrete proposals to meet our four demands, we will remain in this posture,” Bryant said on his website, per the Associated Press.
“Silence and delay are no longer acceptable,” he continued. “Our communities deserve action, not platitudes. Our demands are not radical — they are righteous, reasonable, and long overdue.”
Bryant addressed the boycott at a recent town hall posted to his YouTube page on Wednesday. “In 2020, Target came to us and said they were going to spend $2 billion on Black-owned businesses by 2025,” Bryant said. “To be clear, we didn’t ask them to do it. They volunteered.”
“We understand that your word has to mean something,” he added. “If they were not serious in 2020, then they shouldn’t have opened their mouths in the first place.”
Last week, Target CEO’s Brian Cornell’s had a meeting with Rev. Al Sharpton to try and end the boycott. On Wednesday, Target affirmed its commitment to “creating a welcoming environment for all team members, guests, and suppliers,” per the Associated Press.
Target announced an end to DEI in January to align with the Trump administration. Shoppers reacted swiftly organizing boycotts of several retailers including Target, Amazon, and Walmart.
According to Placer.ai, Target’s foot traffic dropped 4.1% YOY (year over year) for the week ending on April 7. Foot traffic dipped 6.5% YOY in February. Also in February, the state of Florida sued Target for defrauding shareholders about boycotts over DEI.
Target is also taking a beating in the stock market. Shares dipped 11.42 points in the past month and 47.19 points over the last three months.
Between boycotts and tariffs, Target is clearly in panic mode. Earlier in the week, the CEO’s of Target, Home Depot, and Walmart met with President Trump to warn him that “shelves will be empty” due to tariffs.
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