PepsiCo Meets with Sharpton Over DEI Rollbacks, Future Action Pending

April 15, 2025

The Rev. Al Sharpton met with PepsiCo leadership at their headquarters following criticism of the company's decision to scale back nearly $500 million in DEI initiatives. Sharpton, accompanied by National Action Network members, discussed concerns with PepsiCo Chairman Ramon Laguarta and CEO of PepsiCo North America Steven Williams in a meeting lasting over an hour.

Who is affected

Civil rights advocates and organizations
Minority communities who would benefit from DEI initiatives
PepsiCo's minority employees and managers
Minority suppliers to PepsiCo
National Action Network (NAN) members
Communities involved in PepsiCo's partnerships

What action is being taken

Sharpton and National Action Network representatives are meeting with PepsiCo leadership
Follow-up meetings are being planned "within the next few days"
Sharpton and Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson are preparing to make a final determination about actions toward PepsiCo
Sharpton is evaluating whether to organize boycotts or "buy-cotts" of corporations based on their DEI commitments

Why it matters

PepsiCo's decision to scale back nearly $500 million in DEI initiatives represents a significant reduction in corporate diversity commitments
The company is no longer maintaining specific goals for minority representation in management or among suppliers
PepsiCo joins other major corporations like Walmart and Target that have reduced DEI efforts
These corporate policy changes are occurring in a political climate where DEI programs are being eliminated from federal government and potentially public schools
Civil rights organizations view boycotts and "buy-cotts" as important tools to hold corporations accountable for equity commitments

What's next

Follow-up meetings between Sharpton, NAN representatives, and PepsiCo leadership will occur "within the next few days"
Sharpton and Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson will make a "final determination and recommendation" about actions toward PepsiCo
NAN may potentially organize a boycott or "buy-cott" of PepsiCo depending on the outcome of discussions

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer