Alicia Kelso
2 min read
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A nationwide boycott of McDonald's is underway and is expected to run through June 30. The protest was organized by grassroots organization The People’s Union, which is recommending that consumers avoid the Golden Arches entirely this week, including digital orders.
At the center of the organization’s ire is McDonald’s decision to “retire” its diversity goals in January and rename its DEI team the Global Inclusion Team. At the time, McDonald’s cited a shifting legal landscape created by the United States Supreme Court ruling in Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College in June 2023, anticipating that the ruling “may impact corporations.”
The People’s Union also notes that the protest is a pushback against practices such as “tax avoidance” and “underpaying workers,” outlining its goal as, “fair taxes, an end to price gouging, real equality, and corporate accountability.”
In a statement emailed to Nation’s Restaurant News, McDonald’s wrote, “As a brand that serves millions of people every day, McDonald’s opens our doors to everyone, and our commitment to inclusion remains steadfast.
“Alongside our 2,000 local franchisees across the U.S., McDonald’s provides meaningful work opportunities for over 800,000 restaurant crew, spends millions with local suppliers, and serves as an engine of economic opportunity for local communities. The McDonald’s system also generates billions in federal, state, and local taxes annually, and we’ll continue to pay our fair share.
“We welcome honest dialogue with the communities we serve, but we’re disappointed to see these misleading claims that distort our values and misrepresent our actions. Our focus remains on serving our customers and communities. We’re here and ready to serve.”
The People’s Union has targeted several other major corporations, including Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart. In July, it is planning an “economic blackout” of Starbucks.
A similar boycott at Target earlier this year coincided with sales and traffic declines at the company, as well as a slashed full-year outlook. In May, executives cited the boycotts as one of the drivers behind the company’s downward trends.
The People’s Union boycotts are a countermovement to a push to end DEI programs led by conservative influencer Robby Starbuck. His cause picked up momentum following that June 2023 Supreme Court ruling, as well as an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January ending DEI programs in the federal government, creating pressure on private companies.
