A 40-day boycott of Target, initiated by Rev. Jamal Bryant, began Wednesday in response to the company’s scaled-back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This follows Target’s January announcement eliminating minority hiring goals and restructuring its DEI programs, a move criticized by customers and even the daughters of a co-founder as a betrayal. The boycott coincides with economic challenges for Target, including decreased customer visits and the impact of tariffs. While Target maintains its commitment to inclusivity, the boycott’s impact on both Target and the Black-owned businesses it supports remains to be seen.
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Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, sued Target, alleging the company misled investors by failing to disclose the financial risks associated with its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims Target’s Pride month merchandise and broader DEI programs provoked a negative consumer backlash, harming sales and ultimately costing shareholders. Uthmeier argues this violates the Securities Exchange Act. The lawsuit follows similar actions against other corporations, highlighting a growing conservative backlash against corporate DEI policies.
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Target’s cofounder’s daughters, Anne and Lucy Dayton, publicly criticized the company’s recent rollback of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, arguing that this decision contradicts the company’s founding principles of customer focus and community well-being. They expressed concern over businesses succumbing to political pressure, asserting that ethical business models are not inherently illegal. This action follows Target’s decision to end programs supporting Black employees and businesses, a move mirroring similar cutbacks by other major corporations. Target declined to respond to the criticism.
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New research by Professor James Hansen suggests the pace of global heating has been severely underestimated, rendering the 2°C target unattainable. This conclusion stems from findings that both the impact of reduced shipping pollution and climate sensitivity to increased emissions are higher than previously believed. These results, while at the high end of current estimates, cannot be dismissed and indicate a significantly accelerated warming trajectory, potentially triggering critical tipping points like the collapse of the Atlantic ocean currents. Unless drastic action is taken, including potentially exploring solar geoengineering, the study projects a 2°C rise by 2045.
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John Q. Hosedrinker