Target learns that bowing to anti-DEI backers can be costly, a lesson for those bowing to Trump

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 28, 2025 3 AM PT | Michael Hiltzik

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Has any American company run away from a public commitment faster than Target?

In an Aug. 19, 2020, conference call, Target Chief Executive Brian Cornell forthrightly put his company in the forefront of the quest for racial and ethnic justice. George Floyd had been murdered by Police Officer Derek Chauvin, abetted by several other officers in Minneapolis, Target’s home city, only about three months earlier. Calls for recognition of the racism exposed by the killing were still reverberating nationwide.

“Our team is passionately demanding equity and justice for our Black colleagues and guests,” Cornell said. “We are united in that passion and committed ... to playing an active role in addressing the persistent racial injustices that have sparked protests around the world.”

If the founding history of this country is any guide, those who stood up in court to vindicate constitutional rights and, by so doing, served to promote the rule of law, will be the models lauded when this period of American history is written.

— Federal Judge Beryl Howell

He said Target would put its influence to work “to determine actions and resources that will move us towards a more inclusive, equitable and just society.”

The company ultimately committed to increase the racial diversity of its workforce and to spend billions of dollars with Black-owned suppliers.

How times change. This January, Target backed down. On Jan. 24 — just four days after President Trump launched his second term with a flurry of antidiversity executive orders — Target announced it was “concluding our three-year diversity, equity and inclusion goals” and its “Racial Equity Action and Change initiatives.” (REACH was an initiative Cornell had announced in that 2020 call.)

The company also said it was withdrawing from “all external diversity-focused surveys,” including a widely followed Corporate Equality index sponsored by the...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In other news:

War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
2+2=5

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” --George Orwell

[toddausauras]

They’ll just never get it.

[faithhopecharity]

if anyone ever needed a reminder of just how sleasy the LASlimes is with “reporting”

this is it!

[Zathras]

All this DEI-Tran corporate nonsense began at Target with their bathroom push.
It is fitting it ends with Target.

[God luvs America]

Bud-lite would disagree.....

[frank ballenger]

RE: including a widely followed Corporate Equality index...

Have to watch for the proper formula of the races....

‘Too Mmany White People In Here’: Race Row at US College
BBC
February 14, 2020.
A viral video showing a black student at the University of Virginia asking white students to leave the campus diversity centre has sparked a debate over race.

“Frankly, there’s just too many white people in here,” the student says in the clip posted on Wednesday.

[bk1000]

This article is hogwash. I need a shower after reading it, and I didn’t even read all of it.

[BuchananBrigadeTrumpFan]

I didn’t click on it and I feel the same way after just reading a few sentences on FR.

[glorgau]

Nice. The wokesters are beating up on one of the companies that was trying to hold tight to “the message”. They’re starting to eat their own!

[Pearfect]

LA TIMES

LOST ALWAYS TIMES ( LAT)

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Michael, you can NOT force the LGBTQ DEI falsehood down our throats. It’s not going to happen. Get used to it. I would rather die than accept your philosophy.

[webheart]

I don’t think that is what happened. I think Target is losing more money from shoplifting than from customers boycotting over DEI. I went to Target once where they had employees with piercings and ear lobe enlargings and tattoos all over which I thought was quite disgusting. I don’t do much shopping at Target after that. Other times I have seen people walking out with shopping carts and stuffed full backpacks. Shoplifting is far more disruptive to the bottom line than a threat of a boycott.

[Orosius]

It wasn’t Trump who forced Target to reverse course on this racket, it was their customers and the voters. Even as dumb a lunkhead as the Target CEO could read this writing on the wall.

[HIDEK6]

This is a screed replete with purposeful lies.

[Texas Eagle]

Surely you can’t be series.

[higgmeister]

Target learns that bowing to anti-DEI backers can be costly, a lesson for those bowing to Trump

Good Grief!   They sure know how to squeal like a pig.

[mbrfl]

Good point.

[Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi]

This kind of nonsense deserves a severe slap down as in this response: what if I were to say there are too many blacks.

These people need to experience the law of reciprocity good and hard.

[sopo]

A lot of them are taking out self checkout lanes for that reason.

[Ikeon]

Target, we barely knew ya. Say hi to Montgomery Wards for us.