July 4 boycott calls for no parades, no fireworks shows, no flags
The People's Union USA, the same advocacy group behind several boycotts of major retailers such as Target, Walmart, and most recently McDonald's, is calling for another boycott to take place on the most patriotic day of the year. Unlike the previous economic blackout spending pauses, the group urges participants to avoid parades, fireworks shows and more on America's birthday.
Here's what to know about the upcoming Independence Day boycott.
Instead of attending parades or celebrating with fireworks, John Schwarz, founder of The People's Union USA, encourages participants to stay home with family and friends, and to only support small, local businesses rather than major corporations.
The organizer also discouraged in-person protests on July 4 linked to the upcoming boycott since it comes shortly after the massive "No Kings" protests that took place on June 14. "This isn't about standing in the streets. It's about pulling away our presence and our dollars," Schwarz wrote on Instagram.
Schwarz cited recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, corporate actions, backlash against protests, and current Trump administration policies as reasons for the upcoming boycott in a recent TikTok video.
"There is no independence to celebrate right now," Schwarz said in the TikTok video. "This year, we don't show up. We don't protest in the streets. We don't clash with the police. We simply disengage."
Previous boycotts, including the most recent McDonald's economic blackout, were created in response to corporations' rollback of DEI initiatives as well as other grievances.
Other major retailers such as Target and Walmart have also been at the center of boycotts led by The People's Union USA. The boycotts have lasted anywhere from 24 hours to one week.
In a separate post, The People's Union USA plans to launch a month-long boycott of Amazon, Starbucks, and The Home Depot (which notably rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from its website, The Independent reports) for the entire month of July.
More boycotts are in the works this summer, according to USA TODAY:
July 4: Economic blackout
July 1-31: Boycott of Starbucks, Amazon and Home Depot
August 1-31: Boycott of Walmart, McDonald's and Lowe's
Target, one of the main companies on the receiving end of The People's Union USA boycotts, noted that the company has taken a hit this year, both to its reputation and its earnings.
According to previous Arizona Republic reporting, Target acknowledged in its 10-K filing for fiscal year 2024 how changes to its DEI policies may have led to "adverse perceptions of our business, consumer boycotts, litigation, investigations, and regulatory proceedings." First quarter net sales also fell short at $23.8 billion, compared with $24.5 billion in 2024, according to Target's Q1 earnings report.
Walmart, another retailer on the boycott list, previously told USA TODAY that it is "strengthening communities nationwide through job creation, supplier growth, and over $1.7 billion in cash and in-kind donations last year" when responding to the boycotts in April. "We remain dedicated to earning the business of all Americans and giving our time and resources to causes that uplift and unite communities who rely on us every day."
While McDonald's hasn't issued a public statement regarding the recent boycotts, the fast food chain has felt financial pressure, having reported a sales decline in the first quarter despite changes to its menu and meal deals.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: July 4 boycott calls for no parades, no fireworks shows and no flags
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