By David T. Valentin
Today, people all around the United States are refusing to make purchases as a sign of protest against companies that have decided to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The goal? To protest with your wallet and to show corporations that citizens of The United States do not support businesses that will cave to the demands and bullying of President Trump who seeks to end the “Woke Agenda.”
The protest comes from the ideas of Instagram user TheOneCalledJai, whose real name is John Schwarz. “For decades, they have told us that we are powerless, that we have no control, and that this system is too big, too strong, too unshakable,” Schwarz told USA Today
Activists encourage people to shop locally if they must and only for essentials. While, yes, it is still shopping, these purchases seek to restore relationships between communities and their local businesses, propping up the local community rather than mega corporations.
But will it make a difference?
Protest works most effectively when there are clear goals and demands. While the plan is to disrupt the economy, what demands do protestors put forth to make effective, material changes? Are there people advocating and demanding for companies to bring back their DEI initiatives, initiatives that seek to benefit everybody despite what some might think.
Unless people make massive spending changes (where they spend their money, who they buy from, what they buy), it’s unlikely that there will be any noticeable hit on these corporations profits.
But perhaps one day may inform thousands of people of a movement they never knew about. Perhaps one day may change the buying habits of only a few people at a time, starting off as a small snowball picking up as it rolls along.
And that just might have to be enough for now.
It’s important to note that this will not be the only day of economic blackout
There are targeted efforts to boycott Target for a 40-day period. A grassroots movement known as the Latino Freeze Movement is calling for the latino community to shop for only essentials and to be intentional with there purchases so as to protest the rollback of DEI efforts.
Comments