Pastor Al Sharpton will meet with Target CEO Brian Cornell as retail giants continue to face backlash due to rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
According to CNBC, Target requested a meeting after Sharpton (NAN), the head of the National Action Network (NAN), urged them to avoid shopping at businesses that have ended the DEI initiative.
Target is one of several major companies, including Walmart and PepsiCo, and is retreating from Day in the aftermath of President Trump’s election.
The Trump administration has made it a priority to end the federal government’s DEI program and policies. He also threatened to withhold federal funds for agencies that continue the DEI program.
Target did not immediately respond to Hill’s request for comment, but a Nann spokesman confirmed that a meeting between Sharpton and the retailer is coming soon.
Earlier this week, Sharpton met with PepsiCo leaders to discuss a report that the company is set to return nearly $500 million with DEI commitments.
Sharpton said the conversation was “constructive” and that Nan and PepsiCo will meet again in the next few days.
“After continuing to do that, NAN Chairman Dr. W. Franklin Richardson and I, who are former members of the company’s African American Advisory Committee, will make final decisions and recommendations to the organization as to what to do around PepsiCo.
Sharpton and his followers have been protesting outside Bill Ackman’s Offices, the manager of hedge funds every week for the past few months.
“As attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion escalate nationwide, we are not standing up. “Day is under siege and some are already acting like they’re already dead. But in Nan, we know that the fight isn’t over.”
