Day six of Target boycott in response to DEI rollbacks

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — For the past six days, Target has been at the center of a recent boycott started by a Baptist church near Atlanta. Since then, people all across the country are speaking out either in support of the boycott, or in opposition.

“Traditionally and historically, Target has really supported diversity, has really supported inclusivity,” supporter Stephanie Spires said.

Spires says her adoptive children are black, and two of them have autism. She says she could always count on Target for the products she wanted to buy.

“It’s as simple as I can always count on Target to have Black Santa wrapping paper,” she said. “I’m the mom of children who don’t look like me. So, for me, it’s really frustrating to see a corporation make a shift like that.”

In January, Target announced it would be scaling back on its diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives.

Now, some people have stopped shopping at the retail store. Others are showing their support agreeing that DEI should go.

“It’s not about the color of their skin or who they believe in. It’s whether they can do the job or not,” opposer Sabrina Spillman said.

Spillman says she’s against the Target boycott, adding that since she’s the mother of biracial children, she wants them to qualify for a job based solely on their skills.

“When we fill out stuff for school and it asks for their race, I tell them you don’t fill it in. It’s your grades that matter, not the color of your skin,” she said.

Meanwhile, experts say time will tell on how this boycott will impact Target.