Dr. Jamal H. Bryant Joins Educators and Labor Leaders in Chicago to Intensify the Target Boycott
A Historic Labor Day Stand in Chicago
On Labor Day, Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, stood shoulder to shoulder with American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates. Together, they announced nationwide union support for the Target boycott during Chicago’s “Workers Over Billionaires” march and rally, marking a pivotal moment in the campaign.
From Fast to National Movement
What began as the “Target Fast,” envisioned by Dr. Bryant alongside activist Tamika Mallory and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, has grown into a national call for accountability. With the AFT’s 1.8 million members joining the fight, the movement is no longer a grassroots effort alone—it’s a force backed by organized labor and educators across the country.
Billions Lost, Pressure Mounts
Since Dr. Bryant first called for action, Target has reported over $12 billion in sales losses and seen the ousting of its CEO amid slumping consumer confidence. The campaign demands that the retailer fulfill its $2 billion pledge to the Black business community, invest in 23 Black-owned banks, establish 10 retail training centers at HBCUs, and fully restore its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.
A Prophetic Call for Justice
Dr. Bryant emphasized the deeper meaning of the campaign:
“On this Labor Day, we honor the sweat, sacrifice, and struggle of working families whose hands have built this nation and whose voices must never be silenced. Together with educators and labor leaders, we declare that corporate America cannot dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion without facing the collective power of a people who refuse to be erased. This movement is about protecting the dignity of work, the strength of families, and the soul of our democracy.”
A Defining Corporate Accountability Campaign
With labor unions, activists, and faith leaders uniting, the Target boycott has become one of the most significant corporate accountability efforts of this decade. The movement underscores a clear message: corporations must answer to the workers, communities, and families who sustain them.
