The advocacy organization The People’s Union USA has announced a nationwide boycott of McDonald’s beginning Tuesday, urging customers to avoid the fast-food chain through next Monday.
The group’s founder, John Schwarz, is calling the action a demonstration of “strength, solidarity, and people-powered change.”
“Let them feel it. Let them hear us. Let this be just the beginning,” Schwarz stated in a widely circulated social media post promoting the campaign.
Group Cites Corporate Greed, DEI Rollbacks, and Worker Exploitation
The boycott is being organized in response to a range of complaints, including:
- Price gouging
- Worker exploitation
- Corporate greed
- Alleged rollbacks in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs
Schwarz specifically criticized McDonald’s for making “false DEI promises,” citing the company’s January policy shift, which included ending its formal goals for increasing diversity in senior leadership.
McDonald’s Says DEI Program Remains Intact Despite Language Changes
Although McDonald’s has updated some DEI language, a company executive previously stated that the core values of the program remain unchanged.
This isn’t the first time The People’s Union USA has led such a movement. The group has also supported boycotts against Target and Walmart, aimed at pressuring corporations that roll back social responsibility initiatives.
As the boycott kicks off, The People’s Union USA is encouraging consumers to use their spending power to hold corporations accountable.
The weeklong protest against McDonald’s is framed not only as a critique of DEI policy shifts, but as a broader stand against economic injustice and corporate misconduct.