A fresh call to boycott Target is circulating across the country this week. From June 3–9, the activist group The People’s Union USA is encouraging Americans to avoid shopping at the retail giant and instead support local, independent businesses.
John Schwarz, who leads the organization, posted on Instagram Sunday calling the boycott a direct message to corporate power.
“Take the week to spread the word — no more Target. We don’t need Target. We don’t have to shop at Target,” Schwarz wrote. “Shop locally and independently. It’s time that people teach a corporation a lesson.”
What’s behind the new Target boycott?
The latest boycott follows a pattern from The People’s Union, which has previously targeted major companies like Walmart, Amazon, Nestlé, and General Mills. While other consumer movements have focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) rollbacks, Schwarz says this campaign is different.
“The mission of The People’s Union USA is to hold corporations and corrupt systems accountable, not with violence or empty promises, but with the one thing that actually affects them — the money we spend,” he told The Arizona Republic.
Still, this new protest comes months after Target announced it would end some DEI-related programs, including support for Black-owned businesses and internal advancement initiatives.
Earlier this year:
- A Black History Month boycott was led by Minnesota-based activists starting Feb. 1.
- The Latino Freeze campaign encouraged Latino communities to cut spending at Target and similar retailers.
- A 40-day boycott during Lent led by Black church leaders ended in mid-April.
How many Target stores are in New York?
Target operates 107 stores in New York State. Those stores are mostly located around population centers like Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Buffalo.
Target’s response and recent financial performance
The company acknowledged the impact of national boycotts in its most recent financial filings.
- Sales were down 2.8% in Q1 of fiscal year 2024.
- Foot traffic dropped 9.5% in February 2025 alone, according to Placer.ai.
- Store visits were 7.9% lower year-over-year the week of March 31, per Newsweek.
- Target stock hit a five-year low of $94 per share in April, down from $142 in January.
These trends suggest sustained consumer resistance is affecting the retail giant’s bottom line.
What happens next?
The boycott is scheduled to last through June 9, but The People’s Union has not ruled out future actions. Schwarz says the group will continue to push economic protest as a tool to hold corporations accountable — especially those cutting DEI initiatives or consolidating market power at the expense of local businesses.
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