Free Republic

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...

KEY POINTS * Target CEO Brian Cornell will meet with civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss the company’s decision to roll back DEI programs. * The discussion comes as the big box retailer faces calls for a boycott and a slump in foot traffic that began soon after it announced plans to walk away from some DEI initiatives. * Sharpton has not called for a boycott of Target, but said he’ll consider it if the company doesn’t reaffirm its commitment to Black businesses, employees and consumers.

Target sees unprecedented growth in same-store sales and foot traffic during the second quarter. CEO Brian Cornell credits the strongest consumer environment he's ever seen for the retailer's solid results. This follows similarly strong results from companies like Walmart, Kohl's and TJ Maxx owner TJX. Consumer spending is back and has never been better as far as Target CEO Brian Cornell is concerned. "There's no doubt that, like others, we're currently benefiting from a very strong consumer environment — perhaps the strongest I've seen in my career," Cornell told analysts on a call Wednesday. The retailer's shares are surging after...

While Target touts its progressive views, as seen in the company’s decision to allow men who identify as a female to use women’s restrooms and changing rooms, its the store’s customers who continue to bear the burden of this stance. Police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a child last Sunday at a Chicago Target, NBC Chicago reported. According to authorities, the man entered the women’s restroom and pushed into a stall where a young girl was, exposing his genitals before leaving the bathroom. “It’s very sad. Children are innocent,” Stanley Hughley, a shopper at the Target...

In an attempt to calm the anger of the more than 1.2 million consumers who have pledged to boycott the store, the CEO announced the store’s plans to implement family bathrooms in all of its stores for people who may not feel comfortable in the traditional stall-by-stall bathrooms. “We’re committed over the next few months to make sure every one of our stores has that option, because we want to make sure that our guests be welcomed in our stores,” he explained. “But if there’s a question of safety, I can tell you and others, our focus on safety is...

A St. Petersburg man who videotaped himself going into a local Target said he was just trying to clarify the company’s bathroom policy. That video has since gone viral. It was recorded on the heels of Target’s recent announcement about its policy. “(We) welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity … Everyone deserves to feel like they belong,” Target said. Both the local video and Target’s policy have come under fire. More than 800,000 people have signed a petition from the American Family Association saying they will...

Target CEO Brian Cornell says the company isn't backing down from its stance on transgender bathrooms, despite a widespread backlash.