Black Church Leaders Plan Nationwide Target Boycott on George Floyd Anniversary Over DEI Rollback

On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and 67 other Black churches across the U.S. are organizing peaceful protests outside Target stores to demand the retailer restore and fulfill its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. Target, headquartered in Minneapolis where Floyd was killed, had pledged $2 billion to support Black-owned businesses but has since rolled back DEI initiatives and failed to meet demands such as investing $250 million in Black-owned banks and opening retail centers at historically Black colleges and universities. The protests will include a moment of silence lasting 9 minutes and 40 seconds, symbolizing the time Floyd was pinned beneath the officer's knee. The boycott, which began earlier in the year and gained momentum during Lent, has impacted Target’s sales and foot traffic, signaling the economic power of the Black community. Bryant emphasized the long-term nature of the boycott and civil disobedience, underscoring that corporations cannot take Black consumers’ support for granted. Despite some dialogue with Target, activists say the company has yet to fully reinstate DEI efforts or meet all their demands.