Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss DEI cuts with Target CEO amid potential boycott concerns.

The Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled to meet with Target CEO Brian Cornell this week to address recent changes made by the retailer concerning its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The meeting, set to take place in New York City, comes in response to Target’s decision to roll back its DEI programs, which has sparked significant public backlash and calls for a boycott.

Target’s announcement earlier this year to scale back these initiatives aligns with a national trend among various corporations. This shift has been influenced in part by broader political sentiments, including statements from notable political figures advocating for the termination of DEI policies, which they deem as divisive. Reports indicate that the retailer plans to conclude its three-year DEI goals, rebrand its “supplier diversity” team to “supplier engagement,” and phase out its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative, which was established in the wake of the George Floyd tragedy in 2020 to support Black employees and foster a more inclusive workplace.

A spokesperson for the National Action Network (NAN), the civil rights organization founded by Sharpton, has confirmed the meeting but refrained from detailing its specific agenda. Nevertheless, Sharpton has expressed the importance of this topic, emphasizing that the potential backlash from the public regarding Target’s policy changes will be a priority during their discussions.

Sharpton articulated a critical viewpoint on the implications of such policy reversals ahead of electoral cycles, suggesting that if a company’s commitment to fairness is contingent upon election outcomes, then consumers also reserve the right to withdraw their support.

In previous actions, NAN has indicated plans to champion boycotts against corporations perceived as abandoning DEI commitments. Just days prior to the upcoming meeting with Target, Sharpton and other NAN leaders engaged with executives from PepsiCo to discuss similar concerns regarding a reduction of nearly 0 million in DEI investments.

The outcomes of these high-profile discussions are likely to have significant ramifications for these corporations, as they navigate the increasingly complex landscape of corporate responsibility and public accountability. NAN’s ongoing scrutiny and potential action against companies that retract DEI efforts highlight the critical intersection of corporate policies and social justice movements in the current climate.

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