After National Organizers’ Announcement, D.C. Target Boycott Organizers Plan a Pivot

March 12, 2026

After more than a year of a nationwide boycott that significantly impacted Target's financial performance, the "Mothership Three" organizers announced a shift in their strategy, with Rev. Jamal Bryant ending his "Target Fast" while Tamika Mallory and Nina Turner continue the boycott alongside others. The movement, which began as a response to Target's rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives under pressure from the Trump administration, has resulted in Target losing approximately $12 billion in valuation and committing nearly $2 billion to partnerships with Black-owned businesses, along with millions in grants to HBCUs and community organizations.

Who is affected

Target Corporation (experiencing $12 billion loss in valuation and three quarters of profit loss)
The "Mothership Three": Rev. Jamal Bryant, Tamika D. Mallory, and former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner
DC-based boycott organizers including Rev. Patricia Hailes Fears, the late Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, Rev. Lewis T. Tait Jr., and Dante O'Hara
Black and brown street vendors operating near DC USA Target location in Columbia Heights
Black-owned brands, Black-owned media, and Black-owned suppliers receiving partnerships
Black-led community organizations receiving grants
Pencil Lewis College of Design (Detroit HBCU)
UNCF and HBCU business students in the Target Scholars program
Authors and vendors who redirected sales during the boycott
Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, Jaylani Hussein, and Black Lives Matter Minnesota co-founder Monique Cullors-Doty (original boycott initiators)
Industrial Bank, Howard University, University of the District of Columbia, and University of the District of Columbia Community College (subjects of DC coalition demands)
Target employees and consumers
Citizen Trust Bank (Atlanta)

What action is being taken

Tamika D. Mallory and Nina Turner are continuing the Target boycott
DC-based boycott organizers are redirecting people to support local Black and brown vendors near DC USA
Street vendors are aligning their product offerings (switching from souvenirs to everyday items like toothpaste and soap) to support the boycott coalition's goals
Target is distributing $2 billion through partnerships with Black-owned brands, media, and suppliers
Target is providing $100 million in grants and scholarships to Black-led community organizations
Target is operating the Belonging Program to attract women and marginalized populations into entry-level roles
Target is partnering with Citizen Trust Bank to collaborate with Black-owned banks for expanding Black home ownership and business capacity
The "Mothership Three" are verifying Target's financial commitments by checking receipts and calling HBCUs directly

Why it matters

This boycott represents a significant example of organized consumer activism successfully pressuring a major corporation to redirect substantial financial resources—nearly $2 billion—toward Black-owned businesses and educational institutions. The movement demonstrates the economic power of coordinated boycotts, having surpassed the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott in duration and achieving measurable financial impact on a billion-dollar corporation. The significance extends beyond Target, as it establishes a precedent for holding corporations publicly accountable when they reverse social justice commitments, particularly DEI initiatives dismantled under political pressure. The local DC coalition's emphasis on community-controlled investment and support for street vendors highlights a broader vision of economic self-determination rather than simply seeking corporate concessions. The boycott also exemplifies intersectional solidarity, with support from Latino organizations and labor leaders, potentially serving as a template for future civil rights organizing in what organizers call "the new civil rights movement."

What's next

DC Target boycott coalition is negotiating with Target's vice president of government affairs Isaac Reyes and external partner Rae Robinson for specific local investments
The coalition is demanding Target invest in Industrial Bank, Howard University, University of the District of Columbia, and University of the District of Columbia Community College
The coalition wants control over how funds are diverted into the DC community, including workforce innovation programs at UDC Community College, rather than having money given directly to institutions
Target is expected to finalize partnerships with Black-owned banks to support Black home ownership and business expansion
The coalition plans to continue redirecting consumers to support local Black and brown vendors near the DC USA Target location

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer