Why is there a boycott on Feb. 28? Shoppers to avoid Amazon, Target, Walmart. Learn more
Many consumers plan to vote with their money one day this week. Activists have called for people to let their (lack of) spending speak to major retailers like Walmart, Target and Amazon to protest the companies dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs after President Donald Trump has worked to scrape federal DEI policies.
The 24-hour spending blackout is set for Friday, Feb. 28. Several social media accounts and activism groups want shoppers to skip spending at big chains or sites. If there's an emergency, they're encouraged to shop local and support small businesses.
There are several other consumer boycotts ongoing and more planned, but voters can also choose to make a point with more spending too.
For example, The Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network have recently taken action at two Costco locations in New York City and in Union, New Jersey, to bring supporters to Costco to spend money in support of the company board of director's actions to vote down an effort to drop DEI initiatives.
Here's what you need to know in Mississippi about the planned shopping protest and the others that are planned in coming weeks.
What is the Feb. 28 consumer economic blackout?
In one of several videos about the Feb. 28 blackout, the Instagram handle "TheOneCalledJai" said the day of economic resistance is to show that "we the people are the system."
"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.
"We are going to remind them who has the power. For one day, we turn it off for one day. 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.
"Some of you might say one day won't make a difference and that's exactly what they want you to believe," the video said. "If enough of us participate, they will feel it and if they don't listen, we escalate."
More economic protests are happening now
A different boycott against Target is underway after civil rights activists in Minnesota encouraged consumers to not shop at the Minneapolis-based retailer. The boycott started Feb. 1 in response to Target's decision to phase out DEI initiatives. It is an indefinite boycott until Target changes its actions, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network.
The Latino community also is encouraging a freeze on spending. Using the hashtags #LatinoFreezeMovement and #LatinoFreeze, social media posts for the movement have encouraged supporters to "hold your money'' amid freezes on DEI initiatives, funding for the National Institutes of Health and actions on immigration.
The movement encourages Latino Americans to shop only for essentials and to be thoughtful about where to buy with a focus on supporting "Latino American, Black American and Allied American Businesses that are supportive to this movement."
Other consumer boycotts are planned soon
At least three other consumer boycotts are planned.
Comedian and actress Leslie Jones announced on her Instagram account planned boycotts and buying actions starting in February and continuing through the end of the year. That plan explained in the video starts and ends with encouraging purchases directly from Black-owned businesses and then planned boycotts for one to two months at a time against Walmart, Target and Amazon.
In an interview with Paste BN, John Schwarz, who is the man behind the "TheOneCalledJai" Instagram handle, said the blackout isn't intended to protest one specific thing, but the timing is right.
His group has planned a second economic blackout aimed at blocking purchases from Amazon from March 7 through March 14.
Schwarz said he will start with the one-day economic blackout and March Amazon boycott to get people gathered and then expand to monthlyboycotts of other businesses "that are really the biggest offenders within the system." Schwarz said he is running the effort alone but is looking for people to join him. A website, thepeoplesunionusa.com, also has information on the efforts.
Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia and an activist and author, has called on the faith community to start a 40-day fast from shopping at Target during Lent starting on March 5, which is Ash Wednesday. The website targetfast.org also has been created to offer information.
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.