The “No Kings” protest group is organizing a boycott of major retailers—Target, Home Depot, and Amazon—during the Thanksgiving holiday period, specifically from November 27 to December 1. This initiative is aimed at opposing the policies of the Trump administration and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The group encourages consumers to “withhold their purchasing power” to challenge what it describes as the retailers’ complicity in enabling governmental abuses.
This boycott emerges as part of a broader response to various policies enacted by President Donald Trump, particularly those concerning immigration enforcement and the treatment of undocumented individuals. The “No Kings” group has criticized these retailers for their alleged roles in facilitating the administration’s actions.
Targeted Retailers and Their Controversies
The “No Kings” movement specifically targets Target for what it claims is a retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The group asserts that in January, Target ended programs intended to support underrepresented employees and businesses, a decision they believe aligns with the administration’s broader anti-DEI stance. Following these changes, the company reportedly experienced a downturn in its stock performance relative to competitors like Walmart and Costco.
In its statement, the group also accused Home Depot of compromising worker safety by allegedly allowing ICE to detain laborers in their stores. The company has previously stated that it is not informed about immigration enforcement operations and does not participate in such activities. Furthermore, the group condemned Amazon for its alleged monopolistic behavior and poor working conditions for employees. The online retail giant has faced scrutiny over its labor practices, and CEO Jeff Bezos has been criticized for financial contributions to the Trump administration.
Broader Context of the Boycott Movement
The “No Kings” campaign is part of a growing trend of economic protest against corporations perceived as supporting harmful political practices. This boycott coincides with other demonstrations that have occurred globally, including protests in locations such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Last month, protests organized by “No Kings” covered over 2,700 locations in the United States alone.
The group has selected the Thanksgiving period for its boycott due to its significance for retail profits, suggesting that decreased consumer spending could impact the financial performance of these major companies.
LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, emphasized the importance of economic noncooperation, stating, “When corporations align with cruelty and authoritarianism, they must understand that our purchasing power matters. Economic noncooperation is a powerful, nonviolent tool for a free people.”
As this boycott unfolds, the effectiveness and long-term impact of the “No Kings” initiative will become clearer in the coming weeks. The group urges consumers to support small, independent businesses during this time, as they seek to challenge the influence of large corporations in political matters.
