The Reverend Al Sharpton met with Target CEO Brian Cornell on Thursday (April 17th) to discuss the ongoing issues U.S companies are currently facing after cutting ties with Diversity Equity Inclusion programs!
According to CNBC News, Target initiated a request to Sharpton for them to meet as a growing number of customers actively boycott their stores.
“You can’t have an election come and all of a sudden, change your old positions,” said Sharpton prior to the scheduled meeting. “If an election determines your commitment to fairness then fine, you have a right to withdraw from us, but then we have a right to withdraw from you.”
Though it has been noted that the Civil Right’s leader never personally called for a boycott—-he expressed he would consider calling for one if the retailer continues to demonstrate their lack of support and commitment to the Black community.
“I said, ‘If [Cornell] wants to have a candid meeting, we’ll meet,’” Sharpton said of the phone call Target made to his office. “I want to first hear what he has to say.”
Following their meeting, Rev. Sharpton issued a statement to his National Action Network platform describing their discussion as, “very constructive and candid.” According to CNBC News, he was joined by NAN Board Chair Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and Senior Advisor Carra Wallace at NAN’s New York headquarters.
“I am going to inform our allies, including Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, of our discussion, what my feelings are, and we will go from there,” Sharpton stated.
Targetfast.Org was launched by the Georgia pastor with the purpose of a forty day Christian boycott of Target during Lent. The boycott is said to have been supported by numerous church leaders.
As we previously reported Target has been experiencing a major decline in sales and foot traffic.
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