New Walmart boycott starts up again for Florida shoppers over DEI. Here's why, and when

Yahoo

21-05-2025

The consumer boycotts against big box retailers continue with a second Walmart boycott to protest what some shoppers call corporate greed, the retail giant's decision last year to roll back its DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — policies, and President Donald Trump's efforts to eliminate federal DEI programs.
The weeklong Walmart boycott, which runs from May 20 to May 26, is organized by The People's Union USA. The group has called for weekly boycotts since Feb. 28, as well as two 24-hour economic blackouts, boycotts of Amazon and Nestle, and a three-day boycott over Easter weekend.
The boycott includes Walmart retail and online stores, Sam's Club and Walmart-branded companies and private labels such as Great Value and Equate.
The People's Union has more boycotts planned through July 4, when it says it will ramp up its efforts.
In a social media post on May 20, founder John Schwarz encouraged people to boycott Walmart, "because after all the record profits, all the tax loopholes, all the corporate greed, Walmart now once again wants to raise prices. But this time, because of the tariffs, as if they're not already raking in billions, as if they can't absorb the cost. As if you and I should carry this burden."
Walmart has recently come under fire from Trump after chief financial officer and executive vice president John David Rainey told CNBC on May 15 that consumers would see higher prices due to Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs.
Here's what to know.
The Walmart boycott began on Tuesday, May 20. It will run until Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.
Like the first Walmart boycott, this one hits all of the company's stores and online platforms. That includes Walmart, of course, Walmart Supercenter, Walmart Pharmacy or other health services, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and Walmart's membership-only warehouse, Sam's Club. It also includes online or delivery ordering from Walmart.com, the Walmart Grocery app or Walmart Marketplace.
Shoppers are also urged to avoid Walmart's private label brands, including Great Value, Equate and Mainstays.
On May 21, Target — which was the focus of a 40-day long boycott started by Black faith leaders — reported weaker-than-expected earnings due to uncertainties from tariffs and customer pullback, according to the Washington Post.
"Target has seen traffic to its stores fall since activists, Black civil rights figures and faith leaders began an 'economic blackout' in late February of some major brands over a perceived retreat from DEI programs," the Post said. "Comparable store sales sank 5.7 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, Target said in its earnings report."
Boycott organizers have pointed to Target's plummeting stock and data showing both online and in-person traffic at Target and other retailers slowing down, although rising prices and other factors may play a part.
There are about 330 Walmart stores in Florida, according to the company website, and nine distribution centers. There are also 98 neighborhood markets and nine discount stores throughout the state.
Nearly 119,000 Floridians work at a Walmart, the company said.
There are 46 Sam's Club warehouses in Florida, according to Walmart's website.
'Our dollars do count': These shoppers are using an economic blackout against companies
The People's Union USA has more consumer boycotts planned through July. Here's the schedule:
Walmart: May 20-26
Target: June 3-9
McDonald's: June 24-30
Independence Day boycott: July 4
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a term used to describe programs and policies that encourage fairer representation and participation for groups that have been historically and systematically marginalized, such as Black people, women, LGBTQ+ community members, disabled people and ethnic minorities in the United States.
DEI programs in business are intended to make sure that everyone — especially groups that have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against — receives fair treatment and that differences are embraced to improve relations and teamwork and increase cultural sensitivity. In education, DEI typically refers to strategies, policies and practices that provide all students equal access to educational opportunities, regardless of their background, identity or abilities.
DEI programs exploded in popularity during the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, especially after the murder of George Floyd and several other Black Americans led to worldwide protests against racism.
Critics claim DEI programs prioritize underrepresented people in categories including race, ethnicity and gender to the exclusion of more qualified candidates and treat them as anti-white, anti-male, ideologically driven policies that serve as racial discrimination against white Americans, with some even saying they contribute to antisemitism.
The ACLU has called Trump's efforts against DEI "part of a larger backlash against racial justice efforts ignited by the 2020 killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, and the nationwide protests — unprecedented in size and diversity — that followed."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Walmart boycott this week over dropped DEI policies