On Monday, April 7th, a Walmart boycott will begin in the United States. The protest, which will last until Monday, April 14th, in all of the chain’s stores, is organized by a group called People’s Union USA, which accuses the company of going against diversity. Here’s what we know about it.
Why was the Walmart boycott organized?
The Walmart boycott comes after the supermarket chain decided to end its diversity programs in 2024 by canceling the funding for its racial equity center, suspending training on this topic, and halting its participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
This move was not well received by some organizations, such as People’s Union USA, which also accused Walmart of corporate greed and political corruption, and of becoming a symbol of all the mistakes within corporate power in the country.
“Our mission is simple: we want these corporations to start paying their fair share of taxes so that Americans can finally be relieved from the burden of the federal income tax,” said John Schwarz, founder of People’s Union USA, in a statement.
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Which Walmart stores will be part of the boycott?
The Walmart boycott urges consumers to refrain from shopping at any of the chain’s stores from April 7 to April 14, including both physical and online stores. The boycott includes the following stores:
- Walmart stores: Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club gas stations.
- Online purchases: Walmart website, Walmart+ subscription, and delivery services.
- Walmart brands: Great Value, Equate, Mainstays, George, and Parent’s Choice.
How will the boycott affect Walmart?
On February 28th, Walmart also faced a boycott that led to a 9% drop in online store traffic and a 5% decline in physical store visits. It is expected that this boycott will also cause a significant drop in sales.
Upcoming scheduled boycotts in the United States
The Walmart boycott will not be the only one in the United States, as People’s Union USA has posted a schedule of planned economic protests on its website for the coming months, which includes major companies such as Amazon, McDonald’s, and General Mills.
The boycott could also include PepsiCo, as Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, has requested a meeting with the company to discuss the restoration of DEI programs, or else he would call for a protest against the company.
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Here’s the schedule of planned boycotts in the United States:
- April 18: Economic Blackout 2
- April 21-28: Boycott of General Mills
- May 6-12: Boycott of Amazon 2
- May 20-26: Boycott of Walmart 2
- June 3-9: Boycott of Target
- June 24-30: Boycott of McDonald’s
- July 4: Boycott for Independence Day
What is People’s Union USA?
According to the description on its website, People’s Union USA is a grassroots movement focused on economic resistance, corporate accountability, and real justice for the working class. It is not a political party, but a movement for the people, regardless of their background, beliefs, or affiliation.
The movement was created with the mission of uniting everyday Americans against the greed and corruption that have kept them divided, distracted, and struggling for decades.