Take Your Power Back: Join the Economic Blackouts and Shop Small
Protesting corporate greed and big business is an American pasttime, as seen by this protester in 2011 from an Occupy Wall Street protest. Photo: a.mina/Flickr
If you’ve been on the internet in recent weeks, chances are you’ve seen the messaging about economic blackouts:
Burn Their Profits!
Economic Boycott!
The slogans, blasted across social media, were a call from The People’s Union USA to participate in a nationwide no-buy day on February 28.
Described as “the first domino that will set off a chain of actions until the people get what they deserve,” the action called on people to not shop anywhere on February 28—no groceries, no gas, no retail, nothing. If possible, individuals were also encouraged to take the day off work—and if they must purchase something, to shop small and local, and use cash.
The People's Union USA is a nonpartisan grassroots movement with the goal “to unite Americans against the corruption and greed that has kept us struggling for decades.”
Cutting through all the noise on social media, there are many things to know about these boycotts, including why they happen, if they’re effective, and what to do when you need to buy something.
Do These Protests Work?
There’s a proven history of corporate and retail boycotts being effective.
Last year, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement protesting the war on Gaza, significantly hurt the profits of large corporations like McDonalds. Midway through 2024, McDonalds reported its first decline in global sales since 2020 and a 12% dip in net profits compared to the same period in 2023.
Conservatives have also used this tactic, pressuring companies like Target and Bud Light with a “go woke, go broke” campaign to protest the companies’ DEI efforts, including selling merchandise for Pride or working with LGBTQ influencers. It worked, too—Bud Light lost nearly $400 million in sales, while Target’s sales dropped by more than 5%.
So, how about February 28? The data is difficult to quantify and target, but early outcomes suggest the boycott had a “mild impact” and Amazon’s sales specifically weren’t affected. Web analytics company Similarweb did track lower traffic across Target, Walmart, and Amazon’s digital platforms that Friday.
Some experts chalk the performance up to a disconnect between social media and reality, while others claim it’s the message that matters more.
“The longer the boycott lasts and the more media attention it gets, then the more likely it is to affect the financial performance of the firm indirectly,” Wes Longhofer, executive director, Business and Society Institute at the Goizueta Business School, Emory University, told Newsweek. “We should also ask about what success means for those boycotting. Boycotts can tarnish the reputation of a company, reveal broader consumer dissatisfaction and help galvanize a larger social movement.”
Why Are People Boycotting?
The origins of the current boycott movement can be tracked back to two things: broadly, the dissatisfaction with corporate greed and wealth inequity, and more specifically, companies rolling back DEI efforts.
In 2021, the average S&P 500 CEO made 324 times more than the median employee, with the average salary coming in at $18.3 million, according to AFL-CIO. Numbers like these have driven actions to expose and fight back against corporate greed.
Recently, major companies like Walmart and Target have announced DEI rollbacks, in concert with the new White House administration's hostility to DEI, prompting outrage from consumers.
Another Way to Fight Back: Shareholder Activism
One Target boycott began on March 5 and will last the 40 days of Lent. This long-term protest, started by Rev. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church near Atlanta, is taking a stand specifically against Target because the company pledged to invest over $2 billion in Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025, but that program is now gone.
“In recent days, we have witnessed a disturbing retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by major corporations—companies that once pledged to stand for justice but have since chosen the path of compromise,” the Target Fast website reads. “These rollbacks represent more than just corporate decisions; they reflect a deeper erosion of the moral and ethical commitments necessary to build a just society. As people of faith, we cannot be silent. We are called to resist systems that perpetuate exclusion and inequity.”
But Where to Shop Now?
There are other protests planned that are not associated with The People’s Union USA yet, like more boycotts against Amazon (May 6-12), Target (June 3-9), McDonalds (June 24-30), another full economic blackout on July 4, and the Target Fast.
Though there are larger conversations to be had about consuming less, shopping is inevitable, especially for essentials, and to maintain a healthy economy. So, what is the answer during these boycotts?
Shop small! Small businesses create 1.5 million jobs annually and account for 64% of new jobs, largely have better sustainability goals, and strengthen the local economy and neighborhood. Many products at small businesses are locally made or sourced, which fosters innovation and creativity while lessening carbon footprints and unethical labor practices. Visiting local, small businesses is also a great way to get to know and support your city and neighbors.
The Green Business Network directory is a great place to start. Every business in the directory is thoroughly vetted on sustainability and ethical practices.
By shopping this directory, people are supporting an economy that works for all. Unlike corporations like Amazon, which profits off worker disempowerment and selling harmful products, these small businesses prioritize a direct and ethical supply chain, providing service to small-scale farmers, artisans, and more across the globe.
This is what voting with your dollar means—it's not just boycotting big business; it’s lending direct aid to a better world. Rather than the poor-quality products from Amazon, Shein, Temu, and beyond, created through labor exploitation and with harmful elements, clothing from green business Dash Hemp or rugs from Hook & Loom are meant to safely last.
Another benefit of these economic blackouts is that they help put small businesses on the map, as advocates promote small businesses in lieu of shopping big.
As the BDS movement’s continued, new and existing small brands have emerged in the place of boycotted companies like McDonalds and Coca-Cola.
Cola Gaza, a UK company, hit the shelves in August 2024 and the Sweden-based Palestine Drinks entered the market in March 2024.
Looking Ahead: Future Economic Blackouts
A weeklong boycott of Amazon recently ended on March 14 and there are more boycotts to come, including:
March 21-28: Nestlé Blackout – Boycotting Nestlé-owned brands (Gerber, Toll House, Purina, and more) due to water exploitation, child labor, and corporate greed.
March 28: 24-Hour Economic Blackout #2 – No spending for one full day.
April 7-13: Walmart Blackout – Shutting down spending at one of the biggest price-gouging, worker-exploiting corporations.
April 18: Economic Blackout #3 – Another full 24-hour halt to the economy.
April 21-27: General Mills Blackout – Boycotting General Mills brands (Cheerios, Pillsbury, Progresso, and more) for working conditions, low pay, and accusations of racial discrimination.
John Schwarz, founder of The People's Union, previously told Newsweek: "The People's Union USA is not just about one day, it's about creating a long-term strategic action. February 28th is the start, but we are building a sustained movement that continues to grow with each video posted.
“This isn't a one-time protest,” said The People’s Union USA founder John Schwarz. “It really is the beginning of a shift in how the people can demonstrate their power intelligently to the corporations and government."
It’s important to stay committed to shopping small and consuming less even after these planned protests. Start with the Green Business Network directory and its hundreds of small and sustainably certified businesses you can start shopping right now.