On the anniversary marking five years since George Floyd's death, major actions have unfolded in Atlanta and beyond. Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is leading the charge, calling for a national boycott of Target over its rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Yesterday, during an event outside a Conyers Target store, Dr. Bryant orchestrated a 9-minute and 29-second prayer protest, the same duration that George Floyd was pinned down in 2020. According to a statement obtained by FOX5 Atlanta, Dr. Bryant encouraged other churches "to exemplify what happened on that day, and to model that we’re not going backwards."
Target, facing a downturn in sales to which it attributes several factors such as tariffs and economic pressures, has nevertheless reiterated its commitment to inclusivity. Having already pledged to invest $2 billion in Black-owned businesses, a Target spokesperson confirmed to 11Alive that this objective is on track for completion by July. The company also claims significant contributions to Black-led community organizations and efforts in supporting HBCUs and team member education.
Standing with Dr. Bryant was Gerald Griggs, the president of the Georgia NAACP. Griggs underscored the community's discontent with corporate backtracking on diversity measures: "The people are speaking, and they are speaking with a loud and clear voice. We are sick of the attacks on diversity equity and inclusion. And we're using our dollars to send a message," he told 11Alive.
While the peaceful protests carry on, Dr. Bryant calls upon Target not only to reaffirm its DEI initiatives but also to further invest in economic empowerment for Black communities, including depositing $250 million into Black-owned banks and developing more partnerships with HBCUs. Echoing through the prayers and calls for action was the sentiment that, as Dr. Bryant mentioned to FOX5 Atlanta, "The revolution will happen through prayer, and I believe that it’s going to take time."
