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Rev Al Sharpton Meets with Target CEO Amid DEI Backlash

On Thursday morning, Rev Al Sharpton convened with Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, at the National Action Network (NAN) headquarters in New York. This meeting addressed the ongoing repercussions of Target’s recent decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Joining them were Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, the NAN national board chair, and NAN senior adviser Carra Wallace.

In January, a coalition of activists in Minnesota called for a boycott of Target, spurred by the company’s move to abandon its DEI programs. Although Sharpton did not explicitly endorse a boycott, he acknowledged the significance of others’ efforts and indicated he might support such a measure depending on the results of the meeting.

Prominent American brands, including Amazon, Walmart, and McDonald’s, have faced similar backlash, with consumers organizing boycotts due to perceived retreats on DEI commitments. A survey conducted in March revealed that 20% of Americans intended to permanently boycott companies that adjusted their policies in response to the Trump administration’s stance on such issues.

After their discussion, Sharpton described the encounter with Cornell as “very constructive and candid” in a statement shared on his Instagram account later that day. Details about the conversation were not disclosed, and NAN had not commented by the time this article was published.

In light of the meeting, Sharpton mentioned that he intended to communicate with Rev Dr Jamal Bryant, a pastor in Atlanta who previously called for a 40-day boycott of Target during Lent, sharing his impressions and considering the next steps. Nekima Levy Armstrong, one of the original organizers behind the Target boycott, expressed skepticism regarding Sharpton’s involvement, telling the Minnesota Star Tribune: “It’s unclear to us as Twin Cities organizers why Target CEO Brian Cornell would call for a meeting with the Reverend Al Sharpton given the fact that Sharpton has absolutely zero involvement in the Target boycott.”

The People’s Union USA, which advocated for an economic blackout earlier this year, continues to urge consumers to refrain from spending at major retailers from April 18 through April 20, reinforcing the collective sentiment against Target’s recent policies.

Source
www.theguardian.com