New York, January 28 (RHC)-- In the U.S., civil rights groups have announced a boycott of Target stores across the nation beginning on February 1st, after the retail giant said it would end diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives aimed at promoting and hiring more women and people from protected minority groups. 

Target is also ending its goal of sourcing products from businesses owned by people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, veterans and people with disabilities.  

Target follows other major U.S. corporations, like Walmart and McDonald’s, that have recently shut down DEI initiatives that are under attack from President Trump and his allies.

In related news, shareholders at Costco have voted down a proposal to end DEI programs at the big-box retail giant.  The move drew praise from some civil rights activists, including the Reverend Al Sharpton, who led a “buy-in” at a Costco in Harlem, New York, over the weekend. 

This comes as 18,000 unionized Costco workers in five states have authorized a strike at midnight on Friday unless management agrees to a contract providing better wages, paid family leave, sick time and limits to workplace surveillance.

In more labor news, workers at a Philadelphia Whole Foods just voted to become the Amazon-owned grocery chain’s first unionized store.  The major worker victory came despite Whole Foods management launching a union-busting campaign, threatening and intimidating pro-union employees in violation of U.S. labor law.