Founder and president of the National Action Network, the Rev. Al Sharpton announced a “March on Wall Street” for Aug. 28, as the organization continues to fight to protect diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
Sharpton first made the announcement on April 5, the last day of the NAN Annual Convention in New York City. It comes as PepsiCo has been given three weeks by Sharpton to reinstate its DEI commitments or face a national boycott.
“On Aug. 28, the anniversary of the March on Washington, NAN will take to Wall Street to send a message to the financial community that we will use our dollars to abandon you if you decide to abandon us. Trump and MAGA extremists can legislate and litigate, but Black Americans have the ability to delegate their dollars away from companies that refuse to invest in us.”
In a letter to PepsiCo Sharpton wrote, “You have walked away from equity,” adding that removing DEI hiring and retention goals and dismantling community partnerships with minority organizations “are clear signals that political pressure has outweighed principle.”
Sharpton, who once served as a member of PepsiCo’s Diversity Committee, requested to meet with PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta and its leaders within the next 21 days to develop lasting solutions to restore the company’s commitment to DEI and avoid a boycott.
Should that meeting not happen or new meaningful commitments not be reinstated, NAN announced it will immediately begin protesting PepsiCo’s global headquarters in Westchester County, as well as its distributor locations.
In the meantime, the organization will continue to support the ongoing boycott of retail giant Target over its highly criticized decision to walk away from DEI.
FANTASTIC actions –
Rev. Sharpton!