Overview

• Pastor Jamal Bryant, Rev. Jessie Jackson and other civil rights leaders rallied outside the Loop Target on State Street today to protest the company's diversity initiative rollback.
• Protesters demanded restoration of DEI programs, greater hiring and advancement opportunities for Black employees, and formal partnerships with HBCU business programs.
• Target said it remains committed to its past pledges, including investing $2 billion in Black-owned brands, supporting students at more than 20 HBCUs and providing $100 million to Black-led organizations.
• The retailer reported a larger-than-expected drop in first-quarter sales, warning that revenue could slip further in 2025 in part due to sustained boycotts.
• Leaders highlighted that Black consumers spend about $12 million daily at Target stores and warned that continued disengagement could deepen community alienation.