Target faces AFT boycott over ICE response in Minneapolis

Key Points:

• The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has called on its 1.8 million members to boycott Target for back-to-school shopping, criticizing the retailer's inadequate response to aggressive federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis that resulted in two deaths.
• The union plans to promote similar boycott resolutions at upcoming conventions, including the AFL-CIO, NAACP, and LULAC, citing Target's prioritization of political alignment over community concerns.
• Target, undergoing a turnaround under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, aims to boost sales by refreshing stores and cutting prices, but faces ongoing challenges from prior boycotts linked to diversity and inclusion policy rollbacks.
• While some activists have ended their Target boycotts citing the company's recent investments in Black communities, others continue to urge shoppers to avoid Target, complicating the retailer's efforts to regain customer trust.
• The AFT views the boycott as a strategic move to leverage the back-to-school shopping season's financial impact, hoping to pressure Target into addressing community concerns more effectively.