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By Marni Rose McFall
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A nationwide boycott of Walmart is being organized by The People's Union USA for a week in April.
Why It Matters
Following the reelection of President Donald Trump, there have been waves of consumer-driven blackouts in America, and there is a growing trend of consumer activism, which targets corporations for their decisions on issues such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
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What To Know
The People's Union USA is organizing the boycott of Walmart, shortly after similar action from the union toward Nestlé and Amazon.
The mission statement from The People's Union USA states: "We are not a political party. We are not a protest. We are a movement of people, organizing to take back control of our economy, government and future of our country."
The boycott is directed at: Retail Stores, Online Platforms, Private Label Brands, Pharmacy & Health Services, Financial Services, Warehouse Clubs, Subscription Services and Grocery Delivery & Pickup.
Unions and advocacy groups are encouraging people to vote with their money. The People's Union USA organized a nationwide 24-hour economic blackout back in February. Retailers saw a varied impact from this, with Walmart seen a drop in web traffic by 5 percent, though this mirrored general trends in consumer spending rather than a sustained shift.
Some of the anger directed toward corporations stems from DEI policies. When Trump took office back in January, he began to roll back DEI at the federal level and a broader culture shift quick ensued as companies including Walmart went on to drop their DEI programs.
However, this boycott does not appear to be about DEI. A post on The People's Union USA website about the boycott states: "This isn't just about skipping a store. It's about conscious spending and it's about discipline."
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The post continued: "No matter what side of the political fence you stand on, you should be able to agree on this corporate greed and political corruption are choking this country."
The boycott comes shortly after news back in March that Walmart had lost $22 billion in a valuation. The CEO recently warned that the retail sector could be hit hard if confidence in the brand fails to recover, as consumers show signs of reeling in their spending habits, and if the country continues on a path toward an economic downturn.
What People Are Saying
Walmart, in a statement shared with Newsweek: "Serving communities is at the heart of Walmart's purpose to help people save money and live better. As one of the largest corporate taxpayers in the country, not only do we pay our fair share, we are an economic force multiplier strengthening communities nationwide through job creation, supplier growth, and over $1.7 billion in cash and in-kind donations last year, equal to 8 percent of our profit before tax, supporting local charities and causes such as disaster response, hunger relief, workforce development, and conservation. We remain dedicated to earning the business of all Americans and giving our time and resources to causes that uplift and unite communities who rely on us every day."
**John Schwarz of the People's Union USA in an email shared with Newsweek: "**We're boycotting Walmart because they've become the symbol of everything that's wrong with corporate power in this country... Our mission is simple, we want these corporations to start paying their fair share of taxes so the American people can finally be relieved of the burden of federal income tax.
We're also calling for real equality, across the board, without question. This boycott is about showing them that we are the economy. We fund their success. And we can shift our money to local businesses or simply choose not to shop at all, anytime we want. If they want our dollars, they need to start respecting the people who keep them in business."
One social-media user wrote on X about boycott action: "I have been doing the Amazon economic boycott for a week, which ended today. I am stunned by how much I depended on Amazon … On to the next boycott: Nestle and Walmart."
What Happens Next
The boycott begins on April 7 and will last through April 14.
Update 04/04/25 10:41 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from John Schwarz.
Update 04/07/25 03:04 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Walmart.
Correction 04/07/25 05:58 a.m. ET: This article has corrected the spelling of John Schwarz's name.
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