‘Economic Blackout’ Planned for Major Retailers in Maine

Folks are planning to boycott several major retailers in Maine over the coming weeks as a form of protest, calling it an ‘economic blackout.’

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Protesting is part of who we are as Americans—it’s in our DNA. Our country was born from protest, so it’s nothing new to us.

So, why are people planning to boycott these stores and chains? What sparked this movement, and what did these retailers do?

According to USA Today, consumers are planning a 24-hour spending boycott aimed at large retailers like Walmart and Target as a protest against companies scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The movement encourages people to avoid spending money in stores or online for the entire day and instead support local small businesses.

Social media is driving the blackout, with posts from groups like The People's Union and its founder, ‘TheOneCalledJai,’ circulating widely. While the origin of the protest is unclear, it has gained significant attention and participation online.

Now that we’ve covered the context, when exactly is this ‘economic blackout’ happening, and how is it tied to protests against these chains and their reversal of DEI initiatives?

The consumer ‘economic blackout’ is planned for February 28th as a one-day protest to demonstrate the power of consumers by pausing spending. A second blackout, focused on avoiding purchases from Amazon, is scheduled for March 7th through March 14th.

The planned date is February 28th. On that day, many consumers intend to avoid these major retailers as an act of protest.

What are your thoughts on this upcoming ‘economic blackout?’ We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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