"Across Minnesota on Friday, people are participating in an economic strike to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement's crackdown. The state is home to 17 Fortune 500 companies, including UnitedHealthcare, 3M, and Best Buy. But one company, Target, has become the center of the tension over ICE operations. On Jan. 8, immigration officials detained two Target employees, who are U.S. citizens, during their shift in Richfield, Minnesota. Videos of the arrest quickly spread on social media."
"Target CEO Brian Cornell was once an outspoken supporter of DEI initiatives following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, and the company was seen as a strong advocate for Black and LGBTQ+ businesses and customers. But Target eliminated its three-year DEI goals and stopped participation in external diversity surveys, after the election of President Donald Trump, who opposes such policies."
"In April, Cornell met with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and Jamal Bryant, an Atlanta pastor. Bryant shared his demands for Target to open locations on the campuses of 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), complete its 2020 pledge to spend $2 billion on Black small businesses, reinstate its original DEI hiring and promoting goals, and invest $250 million into 23 Black-owned banks."
"Target has not committed to these specific demands, but the company has continued to work with organizations such as the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, which supports Black small business founders with education, mentorship, and access to retail opportunities. The company also supported HBCU programs under its "HBCU, Always" series, an effort to connect graduates with Target's mentorship network."
Across Minnesota, people joined an economic strike protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement's intensified operations. Target became central to the tensions after immigration officials detained two Target employees, who are U.S. citizens, during a Jan. 8 shift in Richfield, Minnesota, and videos of the arrests spread on social media. The detentions renewed backlash against Target, compounding earlier boycotts sparked by the company's rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Target CEO Brian Cornell had been an outspoken supporter of DEI following George Floyd's murder in 2020, but the company eliminated three-year DEI goals and stopped external diversity surveys after the 2020 election. Civil rights leaders demanded specific investments and commitments; Target has not committed to those demands but continues some partnerships and HBCU programs.
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