Economic Blackout 2.0
- Mel Rising Dawn Cordeiro
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Mel Rising Dawn Cordeiro
News Editor
A three-day nationwide economic blackout, dubbed “Economic Blackout 2.0,” is scheduled to begin Friday, April 18, as consumers across the country prepare to halt non-essential spending in protest of what organizers call growing "corporate greed."
The blackout will run through Sunday, April 20, coinciding with Good Friday and Easter weekend, and comes on the heels of a 40-day boycott of Target that overlapped with Lent. The boycott movement is being organized by The People’s Union USA, a grassroots group that advocates for economic resistance as a form of political protest.
The timing of the blackout is strategic, as it falls just after the conclusion of Lent and the Target boycott, which ended on April 17. Organizers are urging participants to abstain from spending money at large corporations including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, fast food chains, gas stations, major banks and more, for the duration of the blackout.
The goal, according to The People’s Union, is to push back against corporations that have scaled back their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the face of political pressure and shifting public sentiment.
The People’s Union USA has been organizing economic resistance campaigns since 2020, ramping up efforts in response to recent national debates over DEI programs. The group claims inspiration from political statements made by former President Donald Trump, who called for the defunding of federal DEI efforts and proposed tariffs targeting international imports.
The movement has gained attention for its focus on financial activism, urging participants not only to stop spending at large companies but also to avoid using credit and debit cards entirely during blackout periods. Instead, they encourage cash purchases from local, independently owned businesses, if essential spending is necessary.
The recent 40-day boycott of Target was led by megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant and supported by faith leaders and civil rights groups like the NAACP. It was launched in response to Target reportedly pulling back on its DEI commitments, including its previous pledge to invest $2 billion in Black-owned businesses by 2025. “Black people spend over $12 million a day at Target,” Bryant’s campaign emphasized. “This isn’t just about one company. It’s about holding all corporations accountable for their promises.”
According to USA Today, the April blackout is just the beginning. The People’s Union has announced a full slate of upcoming boycotts, including:
General Mills boycott: April 21–28
Amazon boycott (round two): May 6–12
Walmart boycott (round two): May 20–26
Target boycott (again): June 3–9
McDonald’s boycott: June 24–30
Independence Day blackout: July 4
Though some college students may view large-scale boycotts as distant from campus life, the movement raises important questions about consumer power, corporate ethics, and activism for students interested in social justice, economic protest may offer a new way to engage. Whether students choose to participate or not, the growing wave of economic boycotts signals a broader shift in how people are choosing to make their voices heard — one dollar at a time.