Activists Urge Target to Condemn Immigration Enforcement Amid ICE Arrests at Its Stores in Minneapolis
A group of activists from Unidos, an immigrant-led organization, has targeted a national retailer in Minneapolis as part of the ongoing campaign against immigration enforcement taking place on its grounds and in its hometown. The rally was held outside the downtown headquarters of Target, where dozens of clergy members planted themselves in the atrium to demand that the corporation take action.
"We need Target to stand up where it really matters right now," said Grant Stevensen, a Lutheran pastor who organized the protest with Unidos. "You can't walk into a Target store here without seeing how they position themselves as being for the health and wellbeing of the community."
The group is calling on Target to speak out against immigration enforcement taking place at its stores, despite the corporation's previous silence on the matter. The activists view Target's inaction as cooperation with immigration authorities.
Recently, an ICE agent shot and killed a Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, sparking widespread protests across the city. Two workers at Target's Richfield store were detained by masked ICE agents after they forced them to come out of their workplace.
The activist group demands that Target train its employees on how to handle ICE agents who enter stores illegally, post signs stating that ICE agents cannot enter without a warrant, and call for Congress to stop funding ICE.
In response to the growing public backlash against Target's policies, the corporation has faced several boycotts in recent years. The company has been targeted by conservative groups after announcing its support for transgender customers and employees, as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy groups who have criticized its Pride Month merchandise.
The activists are drawing inspiration from earlier campaigns that led to significant changes in Target's policies, including a renewed commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. However, the company has struggled to regain customer trust after facing criticism for its handling of issues related to immigration enforcement, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice.
The campaign against Target highlights the ongoing tensions between corporate responsibility and social activism in the United States. As the country grapples with growing concerns about immigration policy, social justice, and corporate accountability, activists are pushing companies like Target to take a stand on these issues.
A group of activists from Unidos, an immigrant-led organization, has targeted a national retailer in Minneapolis as part of the ongoing campaign against immigration enforcement taking place on its grounds and in its hometown. The rally was held outside the downtown headquarters of Target, where dozens of clergy members planted themselves in the atrium to demand that the corporation take action.
"We need Target to stand up where it really matters right now," said Grant Stevensen, a Lutheran pastor who organized the protest with Unidos. "You can't walk into a Target store here without seeing how they position themselves as being for the health and wellbeing of the community."
The group is calling on Target to speak out against immigration enforcement taking place at its stores, despite the corporation's previous silence on the matter. The activists view Target's inaction as cooperation with immigration authorities.
Recently, an ICE agent shot and killed a Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, sparking widespread protests across the city. Two workers at Target's Richfield store were detained by masked ICE agents after they forced them to come out of their workplace.
The activist group demands that Target train its employees on how to handle ICE agents who enter stores illegally, post signs stating that ICE agents cannot enter without a warrant, and call for Congress to stop funding ICE.
In response to the growing public backlash against Target's policies, the corporation has faced several boycotts in recent years. The company has been targeted by conservative groups after announcing its support for transgender customers and employees, as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy groups who have criticized its Pride Month merchandise.
The activists are drawing inspiration from earlier campaigns that led to significant changes in Target's policies, including a renewed commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. However, the company has struggled to regain customer trust after facing criticism for its handling of issues related to immigration enforcement, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice.
The campaign against Target highlights the ongoing tensions between corporate responsibility and social activism in the United States. As the country grapples with growing concerns about immigration policy, social justice, and corporate accountability, activists are pushing companies like Target to take a stand on these issues.
. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT THAT TARGET ISN'T SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS KIND OF ACTION. I MEAN, THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING BOYCOTTED BY SOME GROUPS, BUT I THINK TARGET SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND STAND AGAINST ICE AGENTS ENTERING STORES WITHOUT A WARRANT 
. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE JUST A RETAIL COMPANY, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOP THERE 
. TARGET SHOULD BE TRAINING THEIR EMPLOYEES ON HOW TO HANDLE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AND CALLING FOR CONGRESS TO STOP FUNDING ICE 
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. I mean, they did have ICE agents enter two of their employees' workplaces and detain them, which is super concerning 
. And now that an ICE agent has been involved in a deadly incident in Minneapolis, it's like, what more proof do people need? 
. Have we seen other companies get pressured into changing their policies after facing boycotts? I don't know... It feels like a classic case of "do as I say, not as I do" to me 
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target needs to do more than just stand up for diversity & inclusion when it comes to immigration enforcement they're basically profiting from the harm of people who are trying to escape their home countries 
and yet again another instance where the system fails a person's life was lost because of ICE's recklessness in minneapolis 
i'm so down for them to speak out against immigration enforcement at their stores, it's like they have a responsibility as a corporation to protect their employees & customers. and can we talk about how they've been targeted by conservative groups before but still managed to turn things around with their DEI programs? 
i'm rooting for them to take a stance on this one and make some real changes 
. It's heartbreaking that someone loses their life due to ICE actions. But you know what's even more heartbreaking? The fact that some people still think corporations can just do whatever they want without any consequences 
. It's like, what kind of message does that send to people who are already marginalized and vulnerable?
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they're always touting themselves as being good for the community but when it comes down to it, they're not taking a clear stance against ICE raids and enforcement 
. I mean, if they won't even train their employees on how to handle these situations, that's just not good enough. And those signs asking ICE agents to show a warrant? That's just common sense stuff 
. They need to be more than just " corporately responsible" and actually take action on the issues that matter 
. I'm not surprised though, corporations have always been about making money over doing what's right. But the people aren't having it anymore 
. The activists are pushing back hard and I think that's a good thing. Companies need to start taking responsibility for their actions and using their platforms for good, not just profit 
.