Some Florida shoppers say they’re joining a boycott against companies that have rolled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The plan includes not spending any money at specific stores from 12 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28.
Adner Marcelin, the President of Tallahassee’s NAACP, said on Thursday that he hopes the boycott will get the attention of the business community.
“We are encouraging businesses who have not committed to diversity and equity and inclusion, to reconsider and to have a conversation about DEI practices publicly," he said.
Civil Rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton is pushing the plan. He’s asking participants to avoid spending money on gas, or making purchases at specific stores including Amazon and Target.
"Those [companies] that say they will not give up DEI, are the ones we're going to support. That's just economic common sense," Sharpton said during a recent rally.
Rochaya Reid is a fourth-year student at Florida A&M University. She told WFSU on Thursday that she plans to support the move.
“I’ll try," said Reid. "I’m going to try really hard because I feel its a good idea."
But not everyone plans to participate.
Deja Clements, a FAMU student believes harnessing spending power is a good idea in theory, but she has her own budget to worry about. She said she’ll shop wherever she can get the best deals.
“I just ordered from Amazon yesterday," Clements said. "In hindsight, I feel like the idea is good but we need something else. I feel like we are using old tactics.”
The boycott comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has targeted DEI in the workspace. Trump last month ordered federal workers focused on DEI initiatives, to be placed on paid leave.
"Donald Trump can cut federal DEI programs to the bone, he can claw back federal money to expand diversity, but he cannot tell us what grocery store we shop at,” Sharpton said in a statement posted on the National Action Network's website.
