Target CEO to meet with civil rights leader Al Sharpton amid DEI cuts

NEW YORK – Target's main enforcement serviceman plans to conscionable this week with the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civilian rights enactment has encouraged consumers to debar U.S. retailers that scaled backed their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

A National Action Network spokesperson connected Thursday confirmed Sharpton planned to spot Target CEO Brian Cornell successful New York but declined to supply immoderate details astir the meeting, which was archetypal reported by CNBC.

A Target spokesperson couldn't instantly beryllium reached for comment.

Target is among a slew of companies, including Walmart, Amazon and PepsiCo, that person eliminated policies and programs aimed astatine bolstering diverseness among their employees and reducing favoritism against members of number groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.

After returning to the White House successful January, President Donald Trump moved to extremity DEI programswithin the national government. He has warned schools to bash the aforesaid oregon hazard losing national money.

Earlier this month, Sharpton gave PepsiCo 3 weeks to conscionable with him — oregon endure a boycott — to sermon reversing the company’s caller determination to bash distant with its DEI initiatives. Sharpton reported Monday that PepsiCo leaders agreed to conscionable with National Action Network representatives this week.

Target announced connected Jan. 24 that it would reason the DEI goals it had acceptable to summation Black employees’ practice and advancement, amended Black shoppers’ experiences and beforehand Black-owned businesses. The institution besides said it planned to halt submitting reports for outer diverseness surveys.

It is besides “further evaluating our firm partnerships to guarantee they are straight connected to our roadmap for growth,” according to a memo posted connected its website.

A fig of boycotts were launched of retailers that person pulled backmost connected DEI. Some of the boycotts zeroed successful connected Target.

An Atlanta-area pastor, the Rev. Jamal Bryant, organized a website called targetfast.org to enlistee Christians for a a 40-day Target boycott that started March 5, which marked Ash Wednesday, the opening of Lent. Other religion leaders endorsed the protest.

With Easter Sunday happening this weekend, Lent ends this week.

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