US Economic Blackout Targets Walmart and McDonald’s

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A nationwide economic blackout is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, as organizers call for a day-long halt to consumer spending and work attendance. The aim is to create financial pressure and social awareness by encouraging millions to stop spending and unite in protest.

John Schwarz, founder of the movement behind the boycott, stated in a social media video on August 8 that even a single day can make a difference. “It makes a difference financially when millions stop spending. It makes a difference socially when the nation starts paying attention, and it makes a difference civilly when the people unite and say ‘No more,'” he said.

The People’s Union USA is spearheading a month-long boycott of major retailers, including Walmart, Lowe’s, and McDonald’s, throughout August. Additional boycotts targeting Amazon, Uber, and PepsiCo are planned for September.

The effectiveness of such boycotts is mixed. Retailers like Target have reported declines in sales during previous boycotts, but measuring the broader impact on brand perception remains challenging. A recent Lending Tree survey of 2,000 adults found that 31% had participated in a boycott, while 23% had supported businesses targeted by boycotts.

The protests are largely in response to changes in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. In January, President Donald Trump announced plans to roll back federal DEI programmes and reduce funding to institutions that maintain them. Some companies have since cut back or eliminated their equity and inclusion initiatives.

Since February, various groups have organised nationwide protests and spending freezes aimed at pressuring companies to reinstate DEI efforts. Notable actions include a 24-hour blackout on February 28, a 40-day boycott of Target ending in April, and multiple shorter spending freezes targeting brands such as Walmart, Nestlé, and General Mills.

Jamal-Harrison Bryant, senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, led the 40-day Target boycott. The campaign sought to persuade the retailer to reinstate its DEI policies and has since evolved into a permanent boycott. Data from Placer.ai shows Target experienced a decline in foot traffic for 11 consecutive weeks after dropping DEI initiatives, with notable decreases across several states, including Mississippi.

The People’s Union USA emphasizes its broader goals of enforcing equal opportunity hiring practices, maintaining DEI policies, ending national income taxes, and instituting a profit cap on corporations.

“We have real demands, and we are not backing down from any of them,” Schwarz said in a recent statement.