Organizers launched a boycott of Target in January after the company moved away from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Organizers report nearly 200 days of the boycott and say weekly foot traffic in nearly 2,000 Target stores has declined sharply. Target announced its current CEO will step down in February 2026 with an insider successor, which organizers view as a partial step but insufficient without fulfilled promises. Civil rights activists and Minnesota organizers galvanized early opposition. Retail analysts note Target faced a prior slump, while boycott groups insist falling traffic is significantly linked to the campaign and vow continued pressure.
"It's been now nearly 200 days and what all the statistics and economics are showing that since that boycott was announced on that Monday - every single week since then - Target foot traffic in nearly 2,000 stores has declined sharply and continues to decline," organizer Jaylani Hussein said at a news conference of the National Target Boycott movement outside Target's Minneapolis headquarters late last week.
Boycott organizers in Minnesota were among some of the first to galvanize when Target opted in January to follow other companies like Amazon and Walmart and forego diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. High-profile civil rights activists like the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jamal Bryant also made similar calls for what they deemed a betrayal of previous DEI promises.
Social justice advocates say this shows boycotting is a key tactic not to be taken for granted. Retail analysts say it's difficult to gauge the exact impact of the boycott, since Target has faced a slump the last few years and a leadership change was in the cards. Still, groups like Washington-based DC Boycott Target Coalition insist falling foot traffic is "due in no small part" to a boycott that spans coast to coast.
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