Target CEO Brian Cornell is scheduled to meet civil rights leader Al Sharpton this week in New York.
The meeting, launched by Target, is a move that urged backlash from civil rights groups to reduce the DEI initiative following recent decisions by retailers.
Sharpton himself has not yet asked for an official boycott, but he is openly It supports consumers’ movements that encourage shoppers to avoid targets.
“No elections will come, so suddenly, change your old position.” Sharpton told CNBC.
“If the election determines your commitment to fairness, you have the right to withdraw from us, but we have the right to withdraw from you.”
Sharpton said he is open to launching a formal boycott if Target does not reaffirm his support and investment in the Black community and black-owned businesses.
“I said that.” [Cornell] I want to have an honest meeting, we will meet,” Sharpton said.
Target confirmed the planned meeting between Cornell and Sharpton but declined to comment further.
Controversy arises when Target, which was announced in January, ended its three-year DEI target and stopped providing company reports to external groups such as the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equity Index.
The company has also ended certain measures aimed at increasing shelf space for products from black and minority-owned businesses.
Following these announcements, Target has experienced a decline in store visits for the 10th consecutive week since late January. As recorded by data company Placer.ai.
Prior to this period, store traffic had shown consistent growth year-over-year. But analysts warn that Lower the number of shoppers It may also be related to larger macroeconomic trends, such as high inflation.
The metric does not directly reflect overall sales, but the decline coincided with public protests over the company’s decision.
Pastor Jamal Bryant, Atlanta-based pastorwas another voice critic of the target’s DEI policy change.
Bryant Started “fast” from shopping at Target During lending as a demonstration of black consumer impact, Signaling will soon announce further actions related to boycotts.
Changes to targeted policies reflect the broader company’s attention on the DEI program as companies including Walmart, McDonald’s and Tractor Supply have similarly reduced initiatives.
In contrast, Costco has specifically resisted conservative shareholder proposals aimed at maintaining the DEI initiative and undermining these policies.
Sharpton’s National Action Network recently engaged with other companies facing similar scrutiny.
He met with PepsiCo executives after the beverage giant ended its target for DEI.
Details of the commitment from PepsiCo remain unclear, but Sharpton acknowledged the importance of CEO Ramon Ragualta, who will personally attend the discussion.
The Sharpton conference represents a key rebuttal to conservative activists like Robby Starbuck who actively targeted corporate DEI policies.
Starbuck’s campaign has successfully put pressure on several major companies to rethink or eliminate diversity initiatives.
During their upcoming meetings, Sharpton will question Cornell about Target’s reversal from his commitment following the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Target’s hometown.
Cornell previously expressed his deep personal and corporate commitment in the wake of Floyd’s murder, which he said had a major impact on.
“It could have been one of my target team members,” he said in 2021.
Sharpton emphasized the need for accountability from businesses that have pledged support at a critical moment of civil unrest.
“You made a commitment based on the George Floyd movement… what’s changed?” he asked.
“As the election has changed, are you saying that everything is going well now? That’s a shame for us.”
