In a significant move, the National Progressive Baptist Convention (NPBC) has officially joined a nationwide boycott against Target Corporation, following backlash over the retailer’s recent actions.
This decision comes on the heels of Target’s $300,000 donation to a prominent Baptist organization, which infuriated many within the Black community, particularly after Target announced it would be in agreement with President Donald Trump to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
At a press conference held on July 21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, NPBC President Reverend Dr. David Peoples, alongside notable Black pastors such as Reverend Dr. Otis Moss III from Trinity United Church of Christ, addressed the media, making clear their stance against Target.
“The NPBC will not sell you out,” stated Peoples, affirming his commitment to the Black community.
As Target’s boycott gains traction, it has invigorated activism within the Black Church, which historically wielded substantial influence during pivotal moments in American history, including the Civil Rights Movement.
However, in recent years, the relevance of the Black Church has waned, with many congregations becoming less politically engaged and facing closure.
According to NPBC, the organization claims a membership of 2.5 million individuals attending churches throughout the United States.
As part of their strategy moving forward, Peoples elaborated on a “buycott” initiative aimed at financially supporting Black-owned businesses.
He emphasized that the NPBC would promote these businesses by showcasing their products and services to churchgoers, ensuring that community resources are directed toward supporting their own.
During the boycott, NPBC will collaborate with the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce to develop a digital directory featuring over 150,000 Black-owned businesses across the country.
The announcement marks one of several highlights from the NPBC’s four-day conference, which included seminars and discussions centered on social justice issues and the ramifications of Trump’s political agenda on Black communities in America.
Peoples’ assertions were met with applause when he announced plans for the buycott, which aims to uplift Black-owned businesses alongside fellow pastor Jamal Bryant.
Bryant initiated the national boycott in January after learning about Target’s dismantling of its DEI initiatives, shortly after President Trump took office.
During the press conference, Peoples lamented the continuation of an economic assault on Black workers, citing numerous government workers who have been affected by layoffs since Trump assumed the presidency.
Bryant connected the boycott to broader issues of poverty in the United States, declaring that the persistent economic divide reflects a systemic failure that targets Black residents.
He described poverty as an “act of violence” perpetrated by leadership that lacks accountability, particularly referencing the Trump administration.
Under Trump’s leadership, various sectors, including corporations and non-profits, have curtailed or eliminated DEI initiatives—a move that many Black leaders equate with erasing progress toward equity and inclusion.
The elimination of DEI programs, they argue, disproportionately affects minorities who previously benefited from targeted support and opportunities that fostered progress in the workplace.
Target’s decision to cut DEI initiatives triggered an immediate response from activists like Bryant and Minnesota activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, both of whom called for boycotts that enlisted public support against the retailer.
Organized protests took place at local Target stores in Chicago, and local radio stations, including WVON 1690, became platforms for voices urging the boycott.
Tension escalated when activists discovered that Target had donated $300,000 to the National Baptist Convention, which included four payments of $75,000 to various Black church organizations.
Bryant, who condemned the donation as a “slap in the face,” expressed disdain for Target’s actions at his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia.
Earlier this year, a pledge to boycott Target saw over 250,000 signatures, rallying support from Black consumers who vowed to avoid shopping there.
In their latest financial report, Target acknowledged a considerable loss of $500 million in sales, attributing this decline to the ongoing boycott and reduced customer foot traffic.
As part of their demands, Bryant has called on Target to fulfill a previously established $2 billion commitment to the Black business sector, which includes purchasing Black-owned products, investing in Black media, and supporting Black financial institutions.
Additionally, he urges Target to reestablish DEI initiatives and create retail centers situated at historically Black colleges and universities.
At the NPBC conference, Reverend Frederick D. Haynes III also raised concerns regarding white Christian nationalists, asserting that their actions are counter to the principles of the Civil Rights Movement.
“White Christian nationalists were on the wrong side of the Civil Rights Movement,” Haynes declared, explaining their focus on power over spiritual integrity.
“What was once a moral party has devolved into a party driven by financial interests,” he concluded, expressing disappointment in the moral direction of contemporary political leadership.
image source from：chicagocrusader
