Dollar General is Next on Pastor Jamal Bryant Boycott List
Pastor Jamal Bryant announced that Target’s appointment of Michael Fiddelke as its new CEO will not stop the ongoing boycott. The company confirmed Fiddelke will replace Brian Cornell amid falling sales and growing consumer backlash.
Bryant, who has spearheaded the boycott, said he is “almost excited” about the leadership shake-up but remains skeptical that it signals meaningful progress. “Our demands have not changed since February,” he told 11Alive.
Bryant’s Demands for Black Communities
Bryant is calling on Target to follow through on specific promises, including:
- A $2 million pledge to the George Floyd family.
- A $250 million investment in Black-owned banks.
- Partnerships with six historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
- Stronger diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments.
“These are the commitments that were made, and these are the commitments that must be kept,” Bryant emphasized.
Petition and Economic Power
Bryant’s campaign has gained traction, with more than 350,000 signatures supporting his petition to boycott Target. He has encouraged supporters to spend their money at Black-owned businesses instead.
The boycott has already taken a toll on Target, which admitted its sales have been hit. Bryant pointed to the Black community’s $2 trillion in annual spending power as proof of the movement’s potential.
“That force hasn’t been fully targeted — no pun intended,” Bryant said. “Seventy years ago, we stopped a bus in Montgomery. Now, 70 years later, we’re holding the retail industry accountable for betraying our community.”
Next Target: Dollar General
Bryant revealed his next campaign will take aim at Dollar General. He criticized the chain for flooding rural areas with stores while employing over 300,000 workers, many of them part-time in order to avoid offering benefits.
“Exploiting working-class communities while denying fair wages and benefits is unacceptable,” he said.
Economic Empowerment Beyond Boycotts
Beyond corporate pressure, Bryant continues to emphasize economic empowerment. His church is spearheading initiatives such as entrepreneurial training and affordable housing for first-time buyers. These programs are part of a broader mission to build long-term financial justice within Black communities.
