“It hits them where it hurts”: Americans boycott businesses and protest anti-DEI policies | Trump administration

On Friday, Americans across the country took part in a 24-hour economic boycott.

The boycott, hosted by the nonpartisan grassroots organization, the People’s Union USA, quickly picked up steam across social media, with thousands of users sharing related hashtags and posts. Participants will be asked not to spend money. If necessary, we recommend shopping at a local small business and paying in cash.

“February 28th is a symbolic start to economic resistance and the day we show the businesses and politicians who control the economy,” the organization’s website reads. “The date itself is not associated with historical events. It is the beginning of something big.”

In response to the massive government cuts by Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called “Government Efficiency” (DOGE), some consumers are trying to show frustration with their wallets, spurring anger at businesses that rewind their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Hundreds of people across the country responded to Guardian surveys detailing their decision to stop shopping at stores such as Target and Walmart and to stop using companies such as Amazon, Meta and X (formerly Twitter).

Eric Butcher, support group leader at the Alpha-1 Foundation, an organization that supports and provides resources to people with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, said he has decided to take part in the boycott.

“These billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have an unprecedented amount of access to unprecedented government, presidents and members of Congress,” said the butcher from Bakersfield, California. “All the dark and powerful money has always been in our politics, but now it’s unprecedented. It’s so public and it’s on your face. All they understand is money, so we have to hit them where it hurts.”

Because butchers were on the campaign as it was a rare day of illness, they had both alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Addison’s disease.

“All cuts to healthcare, NIH, CDC’s federal funds, impending cuts on Medicaid, SSNAP, proposed cuts on Social Security, Medicare – this is going to kill people. It’s going to kill people who are my friends,” he said. “It could kill me.”

Lisa Rayner, owner of small and medium-sized businesses in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said it was “no decision” to take part in the boycott. She received revenue from Social Security Disability and said “it’s scary to see Elon Musk and Trump doing together to destroy the US government.” The economic boycott is not the first time Raynor has used her wallet to show her worth.

“I’ve always been involved in economic boycotts like Buy Nothing Day, which goes back 25 years or more,” she said. “I’m disabled and I shop for a few items on Amazon, but last year after the election, I decided to stock some important items that I really needed and as little as possible. I’ve already cut costs.”

Rayner said her 82-year-old mother was also involved in the economic boycott. They consider participation as a way to show that people can come together and organize in solidarity.

“(I) learn that people can live without these big companies,” she said. “Maybe it gives them time to reflect on how they live their lives differently as citizens rather than consumers, and to be able to do so. We can work together and beat them.”

Friday’s boycott coincides with other economic protests. We have started boycotting the target, which began on February 1st, in response to the target’s decision to roll back the DEI initiative. Starting March 5th, the first day of Lent, some black faith leaders have been urging Christians to take part in the company’s 40-day boycott.

The Latino Freeze Movement, a nonpartisan grassroots effort to support immigrants and Latino communities, maintains a targeted boycott list and asks people to “until they show they care about American minorities and immigrant groups.”