Activists are boycotting retailers who have reduced their efforts towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, in order to assert their power.

There has been a recent surge in organized boycotts against major retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Amazon. These boycotts are a response to the companies' decision to scale back on their efforts towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.

One of the boycotts that has gained significant traction is a 24-hour economic "Blackout" scheduled for Friday, February 28. The boycott was initiated by The People's Union and aims to show that "we the people are the system," according to John Schwarz, the man behind the popular Instagram account @TheOneCalledJai, which announced the boycott.

In a video posted on his Instagram account, Schwarz shared, "For decades, they have told us that we are powerless, that we have no control, and that this system is too big, too strong, too unshakable." The video has received over 255,000 likes and has struck a chord with many individuals.

"We are going to remind them who has the power. For one day, we turn it off for one day," Schwarz explained. "We shut it down for one day. We remind them that this country does not belong to the elite, it belongs to the people and this will work."

He continued, "Some of you might say one day won't make a difference, and that's exactly what they want you to believe. If enough of us participate, they will feel it, and if they don't listen, we will escalate."

Following the 24-hour economic boycott, The People's Union has announced a week-long boycott of Amazon purchases, starting from March 7 to March 14. This boycott is in response to Amazon's decision to end its DEI initiatives.

"I'm trying to use my platform right now to organize and gather people who can see past what divides us and potentially maybe down the road legally find some way to unionize ourselves, to create a powerful voice within the system to create change," Schwarz told USA Today. "But for now, the economic blackout is about getting people together, up off the couch, so to speak, to do something together."

In addition to these boycotts, there have been other calls to action, such as an indefinite halt to shopping at Target. This decision was made after the retail giant scaled back its DEI efforts and stopped promoting products from diverse founders. Instead, shoppers have been encouraged to support Black-owned businesses.

"Target was a beloved community that seemed to build its model around embracing diversity and being intentionally inclusive of having Black brands on the shelves, having beautiful Black History Month displays. For them to essentially bow down to the mandates of the Trump administration was unacceptable," said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network.

Comedian and actress Leslie Jones also shared her plans for a series of boycotts starting in February and lasting through the end of the year. Her campaign involves supporting Black-owned businesses at the beginning and end of the year, with boycotts against Walmart, Target, and Amazon lasting for one to two months at a time.

Furthermore, Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia has called on the faith community to participate in a 40-day shopping fast from Target during Lent, starting on Ash Wednesday, March 5. A website, www.targetfast.org, has been set up to provide more information.

"What we learned from the Montgomery Bus Boycott is that racist America doesn't respond to speeches. They respond to dollars," Bryant stated. The power of the people to incite change through their actions is evident in all of these boycotts, and it is a reminder that together, we have the power to make a difference.

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