Consumers Plan 24-Hour Economic Blackout on February 28: What You Need to Know

Consumers Plan 24-Hour Economic Blackout on February 28: What You Need to Know

Consumers are gearing up for a 24-hour economic blackout on Friday, February 28, as part of a larger movement aimed at protesting corporate greed, companies that have rolled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and former President Donald Trump’s actions to eliminate federal DEI programs during his time in office.

The boycott encourages individuals to refrain from spending money on February 28. If they must spend, participants are urged to support local businesses.

Why is the boycott happening? The boycott is organized by John Schwarz, known on Instagram as TheOneCalledJai. Schwarz explained to USA TODAY that he initiated the idea because many people are frustrated by what he views as corporate greed and other societal issues. The boycott has since grown, with his organization, The People's Union, planning additional boycotts targeting companies like Amazon (March 7-14), Nestle (March 21-28), and Walmart (April 7-14), as well as another nationwide economic blackout on April 18.

Do boycotts work? Conservative activists have successfully pressured companies in recent years to scale back their DEI initiatives by organizing boycotts that impact sales. Experts tell USA TODAY that boycotts can sometimes prompt companies to reverse decisions or take action, but they are most effective when the goals are clear. While they may not always result in immediate change, boycotts allow consumers to take a stand on issues they care about.

What other boycotts are taking place? Friday's boycott is just one in a series of consumer-driven actions. A national boycott of Target began on February 1 to coincide with Black History Month, led by civil rights activists in Minneapolis who are upset over the company’s reduction of DEI programs. Additionally, comedian and actress Leslie Jones outlined a year-long boycott encouraging consumers to buy from Black-owned businesses and protest companies like Amazon, Target, and Walmart in specific months.

The faith community is also organizing a 40-day boycott of Target, set to start on March 5, in response to the retailer’s retreat from DEI initiatives. The boycott has a dedicated website, targetfast.org, with more information.

The Latino community is using the hashtag #LatinoFreeze to encourage supporters to “hold your money” in response to the rollback of DEI efforts, reduced funding for the National Institutes of Health, and immigration-related actions. The movement urges Latino Americans to prioritize essential purchases and support Latino, Black, and Allied American businesses that support this cause.

Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network have also organized “buy-cotts” to show support for Costco, whose board voted against dropping DEI initiatives.

The National Action Network has announced plans for a strategic boycott over the next 90 days targeting two companies that have reduced their DEI commitments, though further details have not been provided.

For more updates on consumer-related news, follow Betty Lin-Fisher, a consumer reporter for USA TODAY, at blinfisher@USAToday.com or on social media @blinfisher. You can also sign up for the free The Daily Money newsletter for consumer news every Friday

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