Rev. Al Sharpton held a meeting with Target CEO Brian Cornell at the National Action Network headquarters in New York to address the company’s decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This meeting followed activists in Minnesota calling for a boycott of Target after the company eliminated its DEI initiatives. While Sharpton did not directly call for a boycott, he supported others in doing so and hinted at the possibility depending on the meeting’s outcome.

The trend of boycotting companies for retracting DEI commitments has gained momentum, with Americans targeting firms like Amazon, Walmart, and McDonald’s for similar reasons. A recent poll indicated that one in five Americans plan to permanently boycott companies that align with certain policies.

After the meeting, Sharpton described the discussion with Cornell as “constructive and candid,” without providing further details. He mentioned informing Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, who proposed a 40-day boycott of Target during Lent, about his sentiments following the meeting. However, not all activists were convinced of Sharpton’s involvement, with Nekima Levy Armstrong questioning the CEO’s decision to engage Sharpton in the matter.

Despite the ongoing pressure, the People’s Union USA has persisted in calling for a boycott of Target, urging consumers to refrain from spending at big-box stores during a specified period. As the debate on corporate DEI commitments continues, the outcome of such advocacy efforts remains to be seen.