Target boycott organizers say yearlong protest has reached its conclusion

Organizers declared the yearlong Target boycott over after the company agreed to most of their demands, while one request — a $250 million deposit in Black-led banks — remains unresolved.

Organizers of a yearlong boycott against Target announced the protest has ended after talks with company representatives. Pastor Jamal Bryant and other community leaders said the retailer has met most of the coalition's demands. The protest, called the Target Fast, drew more than 300,000 pledge signatures and lasted far longer than a traditional fast. The dispute focused on Target's diversity, equity and inclusion policies and commitments to Black businesses and institutions. Key developments: - Organizers said Target has met three of the four demands they raised, including commitments to Black entrepreneurs, partnerships with HBCUs, and internal programs to support diversity and inclusion. - The outstanding demand is for Target to deposit $250 million in Black-led banks; organizers said identifying institutions that could handle that amount will take more time. - Bryant said a separate demand for a $2 billion commitment to Black-owned businesses is 97% complete and is on a path to be exceeded by another $100 million this spring, according to the organizers. - Target says it has provided $10 million over the past five years for 1,000 HBCU students through its Target Scholars program and is piloting an HBCU partnership to teach business skills. - The article mentions that so far in 2026 the company's share price is up more than 20% after a down year in 2025, while the S&P 500 is roughly flat year-to-date. - Some organizers and social media users remain skeptical about returning to Target; co-organizer Nina Turner said she will not shop there until the company issues a public apology. Summary: Organizers declared the boycott concluded after what they described as satisfactory progress on most demands, while one demand about depositing funds in Black-led banks remains unresolved. Public reaction is mixed, with some leaders and shoppers saying they will not return without further action or a public apology. Undetermined at this time.