Rev. Al Sharpton Urges Boycott Against Companies Scaling Back DEI Programs
Rev. Sharpton's remarks condemned major corporations like McDonald’s, Meta, Walmart, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s, and Ford for scaling back DEI efforts under mounting conservative pressures.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rev. Al Sharpton has called for a nationwide boycott of companies rolling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, citing it as a regression in the fight for racial and social justice.
Sharpton announced on Monday, January 20, during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration at Metropolitan AME Church. His remarks condemned major corporations like McDonald’s, Meta, Walmart, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s, and Ford for scaling back DEI efforts under mounting conservative pressures.
“DEI exists because diversity, equity, and inclusion were systematically denied to marginalized communities,” Sharpton said. “It’s a remedy to the institutionalized racism embedded in our nation’s history. If these corporations want to take us back to exclusion, we’ll respond with the same resistance as Dr. King and Rosa Parks.”
Sharpton announced that his organization, the National Action Network, will conduct a 90-day investigation into companies reducing DEI commitments, analyzing profit margins and business practices. Following the review, two companies will be specifically targeted for a consumer boycott.
The civil rights leader also pledged to champion businesses actively supporting DEI, such as Costco, as part of the effort to reinforce inclusive practices.
Sharpton’s boycott coincides with the controversial executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on Monday, eliminating DEI programs within federal agencies. The order mandated an immediate halt to DEI-related activities, branding them “radical and wasteful.” Federal employees in DEI roles were placed on leave, signaling a broader dismantling of related offices and initiatives.
During his remarks, Sharpton drew a sharp contrast between the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the actions of the Trump administration. “Dr. King gave his life to open America to everyone—Black, white, gay, straight. That is the legacy we uphold,” he stated.
The boycott is expected to galvanize support from communities committed to preserving the progress achieved through DEI programs, with Sharpton urging, “We must remind these corporations that the fight for equity is far from over.”