Home Depot has responded to the People’s Union USA’s calls for a month-long boycott. In a statement shared with Newsweek, a spokesperson said, “We’re proud to have a culture that welcomes everyone.”
Consumer-driven boycotts against major U.S. companies have been sweeping the country recently. Some emerged after firms were accused of curtailing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following President Donald Trump’s return to office, which saw moves to dismantle such programs.
The People’s Union USA is a nonpartisan group focused on “economic resistance, corporate accountability, and real justice for the working class.”
Their founder, John Schwartz, said in a video shared on Instagram and TikTok: “This July, we are boycotting Amazon, Starbucks and Home Depot for the entire month of July. And we’re not just doing this because of their political view we are doing it for the people.”
Schwartz went on to claim in the video that Home Depot has “Quietly erased their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page, as if standing for fairness or for equality or for representation, was something to be ashamed of. That was a choice.”
In response, a Home Depot spokesperson told Newsweek: “For over 45 years, our business success has been driven by our eight core values, including respect for all people and taking care of our people.”
Their statement continued: “We believe it helps us achieve our business goals by supporting associates, building relationships and fostering innovation.”
The spokesperson added: “As we continually refine our communications, we have been using ‘WeAreTHD,’ which we have long used to represent the welcoming culture that we’ve built here.”
The “WeAreTHD” page on Home Depot’s site includes: “Our culture and our associates provide intangible and hard-to-replicate competitive advantages, which have been key to helping us navigate challenging market conditions.”
However, the page no longer mentions diversity, equity, or inclusion.
A separate section reads: “To preserve and protect that customer experience, we focus on cultivating a compelling associate experience, which we believe supports our ability to attract and retain our associates. This includes investing in competitive wages and benefits while also providing the culture, tools, training, and development opportunities that make working at The Home Depot an enjoyable and rewarding experience.”
The boycott, led by People’s Union USA, will continue throughout July. The group aims to pressure Home Depot and other major corporations to maintain or restore DEI initiatives.
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