Friday Boycott Urges Americans to Halt Spending for 24 Hours

Friday Boycott Urges Americans to Halt Spending for 24 Hours \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A grassroots movement called The People’s Union USA is urging Americans to stop spending money for 24 hours on Friday as an act of economic resistance against billionaires, major corporations, and both political parties. The “economic blackout”, gaining traction on social media, aims to highlight corporate and government influence over working-class Americans. The group also plans targeted boycotts against Walmart, Amazon, Nestlé, and General Mills in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, faith leaders and activists are organizing additional boycotts against companies scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Nationwide Economic Blackout: Quick Looks

• 24-Hour Boycott: Americans are urged to stop spending for one day to protest corporate and political influence.
• Who’s Behind It? The People’s Union USA, led by activist John Schwarz, is spearheading the campaign.
• What’s the Goal? To send a message to billionaires and corporations about their power over workers.
• Expanded Boycotts Planned: Future targets include Amazon, Walmart, Nestlé, and General Mills.
• DEI-Related Boycotts: Other groups are calling for longer-term boycotts against companies like Target.
• Faith-Based Protests: Christian leaders are urging followers to boycott Target during Lent over DEI rollbacks.
• Can It Work? Experts say it may dent daily retail sales but doubt it will cause lasting economic shifts.

Deep Look

Who Is Behind the ‘24-Hour Economic Blackout’?

The People’s Union USA, founded by John Schwarz, a meditation teacher from the Chicago area, is organizing the economic blackout. The group describes itself as a nonpartisan movement advocating for everyday Americans against the influence of billionaires, corporate monopolies, and both political parties.

The blackout will run from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, with participants urged to:

• Avoid all spending—online and in-store.
• Skip major retailers, fast food, and gas stations.
• If necessary, shop at small businesses and use cash instead of credit or debit cards.

The organization has not responded to media inquiries, and little is known about its funding or long-term plans. However, it has gained traction on social media, with thousands pledging to participate.

Broader Economic Resistance: Targeted Boycotts Against Major Corporations

In addition to the one-day spending freeze, the People’s Union is planning extended boycotts against specific corporations, including:

• Amazon and Whole Foods (owned by Amazon)
• Walmart
• Nestlé and General Mills

The Amazon boycott urges consumers to stop purchasing from Whole Foods, while the Walmart boycott highlights concerns over corporate dominance in retail and labor practices.

Schwarz’s group has scheduled another broader economic blackout for March 28, encouraging even more participation.

Faith Leaders and Civil Rights Activists Join the Boycott Movement

The People’s Union’s efforts coincide with other boycotts targeting major corporations, particularly over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

Target Boycotts Over DEI Rollbacks

• Target has scaled back DEI initiatives, particularly programs supporting Black and LGBTQ+ communities.
• We Are Somebody, a labor advocacy group led by Nina Turner, launched a Target boycott on February 1, aligning with Black History Month.
• Rev. Jamal Bryant started TargetFast.org, encouraging Christians to boycott Target for 40 days during Lent (March 5 – April 14).
• Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network is preparing to boycott two companies in the next 90 days over DEI policy reversals.

Sharpton warned that despite Trump’s elimination of federal DEI programs, consumers still have the power to influence corporate decisions through boycotts and selective shopping.

“Trump can cut DEI programs, but he can’t tell us where to shop,” he said.

Will These Boycotts Have Any Impact?

Economic experts are divided on whether the economic blackout and corporate boycotts will have long-term financial consequences.

Potential Short-Term Impact:

• Retailers may see a temporary dip in sales on Friday.
• Consumer confidence is already shaken by inflation and Trump’s tariff threats, which could amplify effects.
• Market research suggests boycotts can influence public opinion but rarely cause lasting financial damage.

Why It Might Not Work Long-Term:

• Marshal Cohen, chief retail advisor at Circana, notes that one-day boycotts rarely cause lasting economic shifts.
• Northwestern University marketing professor Anna Tuchman believes the protest might briefly impact sales but isn’t sustainable in the long run.
• Past boycotts, like Goya Foods’ 2020 controversy, initially impacted sales but had no lasting effects after three weeks.

However, Target’s 2023 Pride Month backlash led to sales declines, prompting the retailer to reduce LGBTQ+ merchandise visibility in 2024.

Similarly, Bud Light’s 2023 controversy over a partnership with a transgender influencer severely impacted sales, with the brand losing its No. 1 spot in U.S. beer sales.

Boycotts That Have Worked:

• Chick-fil-A faced backlash over anti-LGBTQ+ donations but successfully rebranded and recovered sales.
• Nike’s Colin Kaepernick ad campaign sparked a brief stock dip but led to record-breaking sales growth.

Tuchman suggests the biggest risk to corporations comes when boycotts create long-term customer habit changes—such as switching to alternative brands.

Some Consumers Will Spend More to Support Small Businesses

Not everyone is joining the economic blackout—some consumers are choosing to spend intentionally instead.

Afya Evans, a political consultant in Atlanta, said she supports economic activism but will shop Friday to support small businesses and Black-owned brands.

“We want to see the impact,” Evans said. “Let everybody participate. And plan from there.”

What’s Next?

With growing economic activism, experts expect:

1. Increased pressure on corporations to respond to consumer-led protests.
2. More politically driven boycotts from both conservative and progressive groups.
3. Potential long-term impact on brands if boycotts shift customer spending habits permanently.

The March 28 economic blackout will be the next major test to see if consumer boycotts can translate into lasting corporate or policy change.

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