by An interest group of the Grassroots launched a national boycott of McDonald’s on Tuesday and protested against the recent recovery of the fast food giant of diversity, Equity and Inclusion (dei) initiatives and other business practices.
The People’s Union USA called for a seven-day “economic blackout” from McDonald’s and asked consumers to avoid the chain until 30 June.
“This is not about fast food. This is about the power of the people,” said John Schwarz, the leader of the organization, in an announcement of social media. “This is about sending a message to companies that think they can get away with price guts, tax evasion, inequality.”
The boycott comes months after McDonald’s announced January that it would put an end to certain dei programs, including specific diversity goals for senior leadership and supplier diversity training.
In his announcement in January, McDonald’s inclusion emphasized as one of the “core values,” while announcing changes in his diversity programs, a movement that had dismantled the federal dei programs shortly after the executive orders of President Donald Trump had dismantled.
Natasha Campos/Getty images for McDonald’s, File -Photo: Ronald McDonald attends the 48th annual McDonald’s All -Marican Games in Barclays Center, on April 1, 2025, in New York.
In a statement to ABC News, McDonald’s Corporation defended its practices.
“As a brand that serves millions of people every day, McDonald’s opens our doors for everyone, and our dedication to inclusion remains steadfast,” the company said. “We welcome a fair dialogue with the communities that we serve, but we are disappointed to see these misleading claims that distort our values and misunderstand our actions.”
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The company emphasized the economic impact and noted that it offers work opportunities for more than 800,000 restaurant employees and supports 1.1 million jobs throughout the country.
Paul Weaver/Sopa Images/Lightrocket Via Getty Images, File – Photo: In this 11 August 2023, File photo, the McDonald logo is shown in Danville, Pa.
The Boycot from McDonald follows similar actions against other large retailers. In March, Black Faith leaders, including the Reverend Jamal-Harrison Bryant of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, organized a national boycott of Target after the retailer had scaled her dei initiatives.
Target later reported a weaker than expected sale, in which CEO Brian Cornell said that several factors have contributed to the recession, including decreasing consumer confidence, uncertainty about rates and shopper recovery against the decision of the company to stop diversity initiatives. Although managers did not specify the exact impact of price increases with regard to rates, they indicated that the company would continue to adjust the prices in response to market conditions.
The comparable turnover fell by 3.8%in the first quarter, with a fall in the store of 5.7%and an increase in digital turnover by 4.7%, Target said. The net turnover amounted to $ 23.8 billion, a decrease of 2.8% compared to last year, mainly as a result of a decrease of 3.1% in the sale of merchandise, despite an increase of 13.5% in other sales. The business income for the first quarter were $ 1.5 billion, an increase of 13.6% compared to last year.
The People’s Union USA stated various complaints that go beyond dei changes, including accusations of tax avoidance, price enumerations and suppression of employee rights.
“We are the economy. We are holding power and together we are unwavering,” said Schwarz.
