Target Corporation’s stock plummeted by approximately $27.27 per share by the end of February, erasing about $12.4 billion in market value. The drop came on February 28, the designated economic blackout day, and coincided with mounting backlash over the retailer’s decision to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has taken action through its Public Education and Selective Buying Campaign. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. said, “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard. If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken.”

Reverend Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, has led calls for a “40-Day Target Fast,” urging Black consumers to withhold their spending at the retailer. “Black people spend $12 million a day at Target,” Bryant said. “If we withhold our dollars, we can make a statement that cannot be ignored.”

The NAACP also issued a Black Consumer Advisory in response to Target’s DEI rollback, warning Black consumers about corporate retreat from diversity initiatives. The advisory urges them to support businesses that remain committed to investing in Black communities.

Target is also facing legal battles. Shareholders have filed lawsuits challenging the company’s DEI policies, arguing that the commitments hurt financial performance. Meanwhile, conservative groups have sued over Target’s diversity efforts, claiming they discriminated against white employees and other groups.

“Consumers have the power to demand change, and Target is learning that lesson the hard way,” Chavis said.

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The Village of Lincoln Heights and members of the Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church have initiated a public boycott Evendale after their frustration with the Evendale Police Department and Evendale leaders regarding the neo-Nazi demonstration that occurred Feb. 7.

The Evendale Police Department provides protection for the village, as well as the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

The Rev. Dr. Julian Cook, pastor of the Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church, said at a Feb. 24  press conference at the church that no arrests or citations have been made by the Evendale Police Department in connection with the incident. However, he expressed appreciation for  Evendale officials’ decision to hire a third-party team to evaluate their handling of the demonstration. Lincoln Heights Mayor Ruby Kinsey-Mumphrey said she and other community members were upset that they were not invited to participate in that decision or in a decision about releasing the videos.

Lincoln Heights officials are asking the public not to spend a penny in Evendale and are asking the police and leaders of Evendale the following:

• A full investigation, including all unedited footage from Feb. 7.
• Support those affected by hate, including counseling of students who were traumatized by seeing the hateful demonstration
• A comprehensive plan for safety and accountability
• Accountability and respect, including the use of the Evendale public pool by Lincoln Heights residents.

 “This is a Hamilton County issue, this an American issue. So, once again, choose what side of history you’re going to be on. Are you on the side of Nazis and hate or are you on the side of being an American,” activist and Lincoln Heights Councilman Daronce Daniels said.

On Friday, Evendale City officials said that Consulting firm 21 CP Solutions (21st Century Policing), headed by former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, will be conducting their review.

“We owe it to our community and all those affected by Feb. 7 to learn from that day and strengthen trust,” said Evendale Mayor Richard H. Finan. He added all 16 hours of bodycam video from the incident would be publicly available for the community to review, and Evendale officers who assisted the Nazis demonstrators would face consequences.

Based in Chicago, 21CP has a former Cincinnati assistant police chief, Jim Whalen, as part of their team. The cost of bringing the firm in is about $70,000, according to Evendale Councilman Chris Patterson.

A dozen men carrying guns and waving flags with swastikas on them spent about 45 minutes on the overpass. Their presence drew a rapid response from residents in historically Black Lincoln Heights, creating a very charged and potentially violent atmosphere.

The demonstration ended when the White supremacists got into the back of a U-Haul truck and drove away.

“Our focus and our strategies and our efforts were entirely on public safety,” Evendale Police Chief Tim Holloway said. “Making sure everybody was safe, from the original demonstrators to the counter protesters that showed up and every motorist who just happened to be driving by and every employee of every business nearby.”

Lincoln Heights spends about one million dollars annually for policing from the Evendale Police Department. Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies also patrol the community. Lincoln Heights leaders say this may be an opportunity for the village leaders to reinstate its police department.

Lincoln Heights resident Jennifer Gray said in the 1960s she witnessed KKK members burn a cross in a demonstration in the village’s school yard. Carlton Collins, a leader in The Heights Movement, added that the village residents have been resilient in fighting abuses for many years, including enduring the constant noise from the adjacent law enforcement shooting range, which Cincinnati officials are planning to relocate at an isolated site.

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Corporate America’s retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments is already having significant repercussions, with consumer boycotts, stock fluctuations, and mounting legal battles reshaping the financial landscape for major firms. Companies that once championed DEI efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder have begun to abandon these initiatives under mounting conservative pressure, only to face economic and public relations consequences of their own.

Target is at the center of a lawsuit alleging it misled investors about its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and DEI policies. The lawsuit argues that Target’s messaging led to widespread boycotts following its 2023 LGBTQ+ Pride campaign, which extended into a 2024 backlash. The impact on the retailer’s bottom line has been undeniable, with Target’s stock price experiencing a sharp decline. On a recent trading day, shares dipped another 28 cents. Further, Blue Chip Partners LLC reduced its holdings in Target by 6.8% in the fourth quarter, selling more than 10,000 shares.

Despite dropping its own DEI initiative, Walmart has fared better than Target, even as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund recently divested from the retailer. On Feb. 14, Walmart’s stock slipped from $105.30 per share opening to $103.60, a minor dip compared to the larger financial instability seen elsewhere.

Other corporations abandoning DEI commitments are feeling the strain in different ways. Ford, which eliminated its DEI program, is now facing what many argue is the karma of a staggering $2.5 billion in punitive damages from a recent jury verdict in Columbus. McDonald’s has seen its stock continue steadily declining, falling to $308.55 per share, with Blue Chip Partners LLC also selling off its holdings in the fast-food giant. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, preparing to comply with executive orders to dismantle DEI programs, have also taken hits. Coca-Cola’s stock dropped by more than 63 cents, while PepsiCo saw a more than $1.19 per share decline.

Some companies that have retreated from DEI, such as Meta and JPMorgan Chase, have managed to hold their ground. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has cozied up to MAGA figures, shielding the company from harsher backlash. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who has long advocated for diversity, recently downplayed DEI training programs, insisting the bank’s approach to minority communities remains unchanged. The company’s stock has remained steady at $276.59.

Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have also largely avoided financial fallout, maintaining relatively stable stock prices despite walking back their diversity commitments. However, Citigroup’s decision to remove or alter its public-facing DEI language has drawn criticism. Goldman Sachs took a similar step, scrapping a requirement that companies it takes public must have at least two diverse board members, citing legal developments.

The entertainment and media industries are not immune. Disney has overhauled its DEI initiatives, dropping its “Reimagine Tomorrow” website and adjusting diversity-related content warnings. While Disney’s stock has fluctuated, it recently slightly increased by 79 cents. Meanwhile, PBS has shuttered its DEI office, citing the need to comply with anti-DEI executive orders.

Corporate compliance with Trump-aligned policies is also apparent in the beverage and consulting industries. Bloomberg reported that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are adjusting their policies to align with federal contract regulations. Deloitte has told U.S. employees working with government clients to remove pronouns from their email signatures, rolling back its DEI goals. Accenture, another major consulting firm, has eliminated diversity targets in hiring and promotion, citing the Trump administration’s stance.

Retailers and financial institutions are also responding. Lowe’s has merged its employee resource groups under one umbrella and cut its participation in external diversity events. Truist Financial Corp. recently trimmed its stake in Lowe’s, selling off over 39,000 shares. Meanwhile, Amazon omitted DEI language from its latest SEC filing, signaling a broader shift in corporate strategies. Boeing has dismantled its DEI department, folding those responsibilities into human resources.

Consumer and activist backlash has been swift. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, has launched a national public education and selective buying campaign in response to corporate America’s retreat from DEI. The NAACP has also issued a spending guide identifying businesses that have abandoned or upheld diversity commitments. Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta has called for a 40-day economic fast against Target, urging 100,000 people to halt spending at the retailer. Bryant noted that Target had pledged $2 billion toward Black-owned businesses but rescinded that commitment in January.

“Black people spend $12 million a day at Target,” Bryant said on the Black Press’ Let It Be Known news program. “Because of how many dollars are spent there and the absence of commitment to our community, we are focusing on Target first.”

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By Dan Yount

The Cincinnati Herald

Protesters were out at the Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken restaurant on Vine Street in Hartwell on Sunday afternoon, seeking answers as to why a longtime customer wasn’t served first, after being first in line when the restaurant opened. The customer, Keith Gibson, who is Black, was also asked to leave the restaurant that day.

“I just don’t know what happened from, ‘I’m going to tell you that I’m the first in line,’ to, ‘Don’t serve him. Don’t take his money. He can’t eat here,’ ” Gibson said.

Gibson, 56, said the incident happened three weeks ago on June 6, and he and his supporters have protested twice since then. A third protest was held at the store Wednesday.

As a 30-year employee of the city of Cincinnati’s sanitation department, Gibson’s lunch break is short, so he said he tries to get there early before the restaurant opens.

He and a co-worker stopped there every Wednesday just before the restaurant opened to get the special, he said. While he was standing there, a White customer came up about the time employees opened the door. He proceeded to the cashier and the manager, who is White, told the cashier to wait on the White customer, because he was first in line and was picking up a big order to go.

Gibson said he complained, threw his hands into the air and turned his back on the manager so he would not be confrontational. The manager turned to the cashier and told her not to wait on Gibson.

Gibson said he left the restaurant in tears and called his cousin Michelle Rosemond, the daughter of Betty Rosemond, a former Freedom Rider who lives in Cincinnati. His cousin said her mother advised him to call Lee’s corporate headquarters, which he did.

After a corporate official talked to the manager, the person there called Gibson telling him there are always two sides to a conflict and informed him the manager said he was cursing at him, but that they would service his order at the drive thru window. He informed the corporate official that he was not cursing and to view the security camera video to verify that.

“I’m not racist,’’ Gibson said. “I have been talking to a lot of White people and Black people who are saying it’s a racial problem. I’m not saying that, I love everybody. I don’t get that. Somewhere you have to draw the line and something went wrong somewhere.”

He said an apology from the manager, owner or corporate offices would have settled the whole matter, but it never came. Until then, he said he does not plan to patronize a Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken restaurants again.

“What would make this right, is to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said. “But right now it’s like I don’t know even what it’s going to take to make it right, because I’m still trying to find out what really went on.”

Gibson is a father, grandfather and friend to many.

Rosemond said her cousin is an upstanding member of the community, has never been in trouble and is the type of person who would do anything for anyone.

The incident has gone viral on social media outlets.

In April, Gibson and a diverse group of nine other city sanitation workers were sent by the city of Cincinnati City to ceremonies in Memphis, Tennessee, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was there at in 1968 to lead striking sanitation workers.

“What I heard and saw there that weekend prepared me for such things as this,’’ Gibson said. “I have always been a peaceful man, but now I am prepared to march and to fight with my mind like Dr. King.’

“We want to send a message to businesses that are in our community that we will not spend our money where we are not respected,’’ Rosemond said.  “Our money is power. We want to spread the word to the community that if this happens to you, there are things that you can do. Do not spend your money where you are invisible,’’

Gibson also has filed a complaint with Ohio Civil Rights Commission about his treatment at the restaurant.

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