Home Depot Responds to Nationwide Boycott
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Home Depot has responded to the People's Union USA's calls for a monthlong boycott. In a statement shared with Newsweek, a spokesperson said "We're proud to have a culture that welcomes everyone."
Newsweek has reached out to the founder of the People's Union USA via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Boycotts, led by consumers against prominent U.S. companies have been sweeping the country in recent months. Some boycotts have come as companies have been accused of scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI), following the return of President Donald Trump to office, where he moved to dismantle such practices.
The Home Depot logo is displayed outside a store on March 10, 2025 in San Diego, California.
The Home Depot logo is displayed outside a store on March 10, 2025 in San Diego, California.What To Know
The People's Union USA is a nonpartisan group focused on "economic resistance, corporate accountability, and real justice for the working class."
Its founder, John Schwartz, said in a video shared to Instagram and TikTok "This July, we are boycotting Amazon, Starbucks and Home Depot for the entire month of July. And we're not just doing this because of their political view we are doing it for the people."
Schwartz went on to say in the video that Home Depot has "Quietly erased their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page, as if standing for fairness or for equality or for representation, was something to be ashamed of. That was a choice."
In response, a Home Depot spokesperson shared a statement with Newsweek which read in part "For over 45 years, our business success has been driven by our eight core values, including respect for all people and taking care of our people."
The statement continued that Home Depot is "proud," to have a culture that "welcomes everyone."
It continued, "We believe it helps us achieve our business goals by supporting associates, building relationships and fostering innovation."
The spokesperson added: "As we continually refine our communications, we have been using 'WeAreTHD,' which we have long used to represent the welcoming culture that we've built here."
The "WeAreTHD" page on Home Depot's website reads in part "Our culture and our associates provide intangible and hard-to-replicate competitive advantages, which have been key to helping us navigate challenging market conditions."
The page does not mention diversity, equity or inclusion.
The website did originally have a page that championed the company's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. This was taken down after Trump's orders to ax DEI programs in both public and private sectors across America.
DEI initiatives were created to promote the fair treatment and full participation of individuals, in particular those who are from historically underrepresented or marginalized groups.
Companies such as Meta, Walmart and McDonald's have made changes to their DEI policies.
What People Are Saying
John Schwartz, speaking in a TikTok video about the boycott: "We the people have had and seen enough. So this July, we make a different kind of noise. We stop shopping with them, we stop funding the systems that don't serve us. And we shift our energy to small businesses, to local shops, to the people who actually care. Because we are the economy."
The "WeAreTHD" page on Home Depot's website reads in part: "To preserve and protect that customer experience, we focus on cultivating a compelling associate experience, which we believe supports our ability to attract and retain our associates. This includes investing in competitive wages and benefits while also providing the culture, tools, training, and development opportunities that make working at The Home Depot an enjoyable and rewarding experience."
What's Next
The Home Depot boycott is to last for the month of July, as the People's Union USA continues to spearhead boycott initiatives against major American companies.
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