Original Target Boycott Organizers Speak Out: ‘This Is Our Movement’

March 20, 2026

Three Minnesota-based civil rights organizers who initiated a national boycott against Target are speaking out against attempts to marginalize their movement. The boycott, launched on February 1st during Black History Month, was triggered by Target's decision to roll back its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs shortly after making a $2 billion pledge in 2021 to support Black communities. The organizers criticize Target for bypassing them to engage with Rev.

Who is affected

Nekima Levy Armstrong (civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network)
Jaylani Hussein (executive director of CAIR-Minnesota)
Monique Cullars-Doty (co-founder of Black Lives Matter Minnesota)
Black-owned businesses that were promised support through Target's $2 billion pledge
Black shoppers and Black Target employees
The Twin Cities community, particularly those living near where George Floyd was murdered
Rev. Al Sharpton (contacted by Target despite not participating in the boycott)
Black men who experienced increased incarceration rates in Hennepin County

What action is being taken

The three organizers are conducting an indefinite boycott of Target that began on February 1
They are working with the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder newspaper
Target is experiencing decreased foot traffic and declining stock prices
Target has been reaching out to Rev. Al Sharpton for discussions
The organizers are refusing to join a new "organizing committee" alongside other activists

Why it matters

This situation highlights the tension between grassroots movements and corporate responses to social justice issues. Target made substantial public commitments ($2 billion) to support Black communities following George Floyd's murder but reversed course on DEI programs, demonstrating potential corporate opportunism during social justice moments. The boycott's effectiveness (reduced foot traffic and stock decline) shows community organizing power, while Target's attempt to engage outside figures rather than the actual organizers reveals corporate strategies to undermine authentic grassroots leadership. The organizers' allegations about Target's historical funding of prosecutorial systems that increased Black incarceration rates connect the issue to broader systemic injustices beyond surface-level diversity programs.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint