A group is attempting to organize an “economic blackout” boycott against McDonald’s, accusing the fast-food giant of “price gouging” and exploiting tax loopholes. The protest, led by the People’s Union USA, is targeting McDonald’s from June 24 to June 30. The group claims the company suppresses workers’ rights and union efforts while making false promises regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
McDonald’s has responded by stating that it pays billions in taxes annually and remains committed to serving its customers and communities. The company criticized the misleading claims, asserting that it continues to uphold its values. Despite the group’s earlier boycotts against major retailers like Walmart and Amazon, data suggests minimal financial impact from these campaigns.
For instance, Amazon reported better-than-expected earnings despite a March boycott. However, a separate 40-day boycott against Target over its rollback of DEI initiatives did correlate with a sales decline. Target’s CEO acknowledged that backlash to its DEI changes contributed to the drop.
Experts note that boycotts rarely affect sales directly but can generate significant media attention, which sometimes influences public perception. Brayden King, a professor at Northwestern University, emphasized that media coverage is the strongest predictor of a boycott’s effectiveness.
— News Original —
What to know about McDonald’s “economic blackout” protests
A group is attempting to organize an “economic blackout” boycott against McDonald’s, which the organizers accuse of “price gouging” and “tax dodging.” The group has led several widely publicized blackouts this year, but data reflects minimal, if any, impact from their campaigns.
— news from Axios