IN SUPPORT OF THE TARGET BOYCOTT AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

WHEREAS, the AFT is deeply committed to the advancement of racial justice, economic equity and the protection of democracy, and recognizes the central role organized labor plays in holding corporations accountable to the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, Target, a major U.S. retailer and publicly branded “diversity leader,” made national headlines in 2020 when it committed $2 billion to support Black-owned businesses and amplify its internal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts following the murder of George Floyd and the national uprising for racial justice; and

WHEREAS, in 2024-25, Target began quietly rolling back many of its commitments—disbanding its internal racial equity action and change teams, withdrawing from equity-related benchmarking such as the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, shifting engagement with Black and other minority-owned suppliers, and significantly reducing its public engagement with marginalized communities―moves widely seen as corporate retreat under political and public pressure; and

WHEREAS, the abandonment of these commitments is a betrayal of trust to the Black, female, LGBTQIA+ working-class people, and other historically marginalized groups that have long fueled Target’s profits, and reflects a broader pattern of corporate backlash against equity efforts across the country; and

WHEREAS, this rollback has spurred a national economic justice campaign―“Target Fast”―led by faith leaders like the Rev. Jamal Bryant, civil rights organizations, and labor advocates who have organized a long-term boycott, calling attention to the corporate gaslighting of key consumers and the need for sustained accountability; and

WHEREAS, this boycott has already impacted Target’s bottom line―including a reported $500 million in lost sales, significant stock devaluation, and a 43 percent reduction in CEO compensation―demonstrating the power of collective economic action in the fight for equity; and

WHEREAS, Black Americans represent one of the largest consumer bases in the United States, spending over $1.6 trillion annually, with an estimated $12 million per day spent at Target by Black households alone—resources that must not be taken for granted or used to fund institutions complicit in racial and economic harm; and

WHEREAS, the AFT stands in solidarity with our communities, students, and members who expect corporations to uphold the public commitments they make and to engage in transparent, equitable practices that reflect the values of democracy, inclusion and justice; and

WHEREAS, the AFT has a long and principled tradition of leveraging our economic power―including teacher pension funds, divestment campaigns, consumer boycotts and shareholder advocacy―to demand corporate accountability on issues of racial justice, labor rights and community well-being; and

WHEREAS, from calls for corporate divestment during South African apartheid to supporting the United Farm Workers’ grape boycott, from standing with postal workers in the boycott of Staples for outsourcing union jobs, to campaigns targeting gun manufacturers, private prisons and fossil fuel corporations, the AFT has consistently aligned our financial influence with our values―demonstrating that organized labor’s economic power is a vital tool for advancing justice, dignity and equity for all; and

WHEREAS, the resignation of CEO Brian Cornell, while a minimal but necessary first step, is not in itself sufficient to address the harm caused by Target’s retreat from its stated commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, and must be viewed as only the beginning of a much broader process of accountability; and

WHEREAS, Target’s long-term credibility will be measured not by symbolic gestures, but by transparent commitments to equitable business practices; genuine engagement with impacted communities; and its original intent to support diversity, equity and inclusion that has never materialized:

RESOLVED, that the AFT affirms our support for the national boycott of Target, led by faith and community organizations, and rooted in the demand for corporate accountability for abandoned commitments to equity and betrayal of public trust; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will urge our members, affiliates and partners to refrain from shopping at Target or using Target’s digital platforms until such time as the company publicly recommits to its diversity, equity and inclusion goals; meets the broader demands of the “Target Fast” to re-establish trust and good faith with Black/historically marginalized consumers and workers; and provides transparent metrics to ensure accountability and follow-through; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will commit to amplifying the voices of faith leaders, civil rights activists and union members who are leading this campaign, and to centering economic justice in our organizing, advocacy and member-education efforts; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will engage in a public education effort among our locals and members to uplift the power of economic withdrawal, the importance of corporate accountability, and the intersection between racial justice and economic freedom; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will call on Target and other corporations to recognize their role in advancing―not undermining―racial equity, labor rights, and democratic inclusion, and to invest meaningfully in the communities whose labor and consumer power fuel their success.

RESOLVED, that the AFT acknowledges this leadership change as a minimal but necessary first step, while emphasizing that we await the fulfillment of the broader demands advanced by the boycott’s originators to ensure meaningful progress in rebuilding trust and accountability within Target; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will continue to call upon Target to appoint leadership that prioritizes equitable practices and actively engages with historically marginalized communities in order to ensure sustained, measurable progress toward justice and inclusion; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT affirms our solidarity with the boycott organizers and impacted communities, and commits to monitoring Target’s actions closely, maintaining pressure, and supporting continued collective action until the company demonstrates meaningful and lasting change.

Adopted August 28, 2025