Why shoppers are boycotting Walmart again after March’s ‘economic blackout’
Shoppers have started to boycott Walmart for a second time, two months after March's economic blackout.
Advocacy group People’s Union USA announced there would be a boycott of Walmart from May 20 to May 26 after accusing the company of “crushing small businesses” and “underpaying” its employees.
The boycott includes both in-store and online shopping at Walmart locations and affiliated Walmart-branded companies, such as Sam’s Club, as well as private label brands such as Great Value and Equate.
John Schwarz, the founder of the People’s Union, posted a video Tuesday on Instagram explaining the reasoning for the boycott, telling his followers, “After all the record profits, all the tax loopholes, all the corporate greed, Walmart now once again wants to raise prices.”
“But this time, because of the tariffs, as if they're not already raking in billions, as if they can't absorb the cost. As if you and I should carry this burden.”
Schwarz and the People’s Union previously organized a week-long "economic blackout" back in march, where consumers were asked to avoid making purchases from Amazon’s main site as well as the other companies it owns, including Amazon Alexa, IMDb, Prime Video, Ring, Twitch, Whole Foods, and Zappos.
At the time, Schwarz told CNET the objective of the “calculated strike” is simple: for Amazon to record a dip in sales
.
"We're using the one tool that always makes them listen, money," said The People's Union USA on its website. "Economic resistance is our frontline weapon. And behind that, we've got something they'll never understand: resilience, strength, and the will to endure. They raise prices, we stop spending. They ignore our voices, we cut their profits. They divide, we unite." "What we can do is hold these companies accountable for not paying their fair share of taxes, for price gouging and for inequality," said John Schwarz, the group's founder.
“If you want to focus your firepower, you target what you use the most,” he said.
It was not immediately clear how many people were due to participate in the boycott.
Prior to the Amazon boycott, the People’s Union took aim at corporate giants with a sweeping consumer blackout, which urged consumers against making purchases at major retailers for 24 hours.
Schwarz told CNN that the movement “went international,” adding: “Every country has messaged me, people from all over the world commenting on the videos. ‘How can we stand in solidarity?’”
However, an analysis from digital retail consultancy company Momentum Commerce showed Amazon had slightly higher sales that day.
The organization has other boycotts planned throughout the next couple of weeks, including a Target boycott from June 3 to June 9, a McDonald’s boycott from June 24 to June 30, and an Independence Day boycott on July 4.
The organisation's digital platform states its primary objectives: addressing corporate exploitation, ensuring business accountability, and highlighting practices that have affected American society adversely over many years.
