Target’s Unfolding Mess
It’s not what you think it is.
Today on Tanya's page, let's talk about Target.
So--some news outlets are reporting haphazardly, not at all, and/or inaccurately on this. Attached article details it fairly well. But here is a timeline synopsis:
November 5 -- Trumpasaurus rex, father of America's steepest slide into fascism, is elected.
Jan 6 -- T Rex and his hagfish, Mr. Musk, currently a frontrunner for our least favorite human, enter the halls of government as a unified wrecking ball.
Jan 24 -- Target announces that "it's evolving its Belonging initiative by “concluding its three-year diversity, equity and inclusion goals.”
Jan 31 -- Target is sued by shareholders BECAUSE of its DEI actions, claiming shareholders were cheated by not being properly informed about the risks of having a DEI campaign.
(Remember the 2023 boycotts and tiktok videos of bigoted folks very angry about the rainbow children's clothes and pride displays?)
This Jan 31 lawsuit is related to the lawsuit filed against Target in August of 2023, when "America First Legal, founded by Stephen Miller and now a Trump administration policy advisor, brought a similar suit on behalf of shareholder Brian Craig." Stephen Miller is another hagfish. (I deeply apologize to the hagfish for not being able to come up with a better example in this moment.) Poor Brian Craig was alleging financial losses due to the company’s Pride Month 2023 campaign.
Feb 1 -- Civil rights leaders called for a Target boycott beginning in conjunction with Black History Month. In a rally outside the company’s Minneapolis headquarters, civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network, Nekima Levy Armstrong said Target acted “cowardly” by “bowing to the Trump administration” and retreating from support of racial equity. Organizers called on supporters to patronize Costco instead since it has reaffirmed its support of DEI."
Enter, The National Center for Public Policy Research, a "non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think tank." (Total bullshit, because their home page has this headline, "Horace Cooper: Unhinged Leftists are Opposing the Will of Most Americans." According to their website, their mission is, "To grow the freedom movement by taking our message to new constituencies to secure liberty now and for future generations." (barf)
They are trying to help us by doing incredibly ridiculous things like: submitting a proxy proposal for Costco to look into the risks of continuing DEI. In response: "Costco shareholders voted almost unanimously in support of Costco’s current DEI initiatives at the company’s January shareholder meeting."
In response, Jan 30: A letter is sent to Costco CEO Ron Vacharis "from 19 AGs requesting Costco notify them within 30 days whether the company has repealed its DEI policies or explain why it has failed to do so."
In Nov 2024, largely thought to be due to inflation, shares tumbled, losing 21-22% of their value, which equated to $15.7 billion in market value. (Note: there are different numbers reported by different outlets!) People can't get their Target on when inflation is up. But--let's blame pride month.
The losses may or may not be due to DEI at all -- but the lawsuits are being filed as an anti-DEI maneuver by folks angry about queer positive and anti-racist retail. The reporting on this is ALL OVER THE PLACE and super messy.
But moreso, the point is: We live in a country where AG's are really out here threatening to sue Costco over maintaining equitable workplace practices. That should be the headline, imho.
Support Costco. If you can't shop Costco because of financial constraints or because you are a small household of 1-2 folks, send them love. If AG's can send letters, so can you.
How can you contact Costco corporate office? From their website:
We are happy to call Washington state our home. Visit our corporate offices at: 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027
Or, write us at our mailing address: Costco Wholesale — P.O. Box 34331, Seattle, WA 98124
Finally, feel free to call us at 425-313-8100. We’re available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT.
