By Russ Stoddard in DEI — Feb 11, 2025

DEI Advocates Fight Back

Human rights icon Dolores Huerta is calling for a boycott of Target stores and other companies who have eliminated their DEI programs.

Welcome to Issue 111 of Godspeed, which we're dedicating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – that's right: Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Let's go.

At 94, The Queen of Boycotts Isn't Done Fighting: Dolores Huerta vs. Target

As I move through my 67th year on Planet Earth, I periodically have a thought spurred by some kind of aggravation: "I'm too old for this shit."

And when I do, I simply look to Dolores Huerta for inspiration. At 94 years of age, the Queen of Boycotts — my term, not hers — is at it again, calling for a boycott of Target stores along with others who have renounced DEI programs at their companies.

You might not be aware of Dolores, as for many of you she was protesting before your parents were even born. Quickly, she is a ferocious labor leader and female activist. She was co-founder of United Farm Workers back in the 60's and, along with Cesar Chavez, led a successful boycott against grape companies in support of farm worker rights.

She is also credited with coining the phrase, Sí se puede (Yes, you can), which has lived long beyond its original moment in time.

Dolores has spent her entire life fighting for human rights – with story upon story of advocacy and sacrifice along the way. We've honored her at my coworking space in Boise, Inspiration Alley, by painting a large-scale mural of her alongside other champions of social and environmental justice.

She is total badass, and if you'd like to learn more about her you can do it here or at the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

"If you don't respect our community, then you shouldn't have our dollars," said Dolores in a news interview about the boycott. "We're going to boycott in front of every Target store and to let people know what's going on."

She says this affects not just communities of color, but the disabled, LGBTQ+, women, and veteran workers.

She is also calling out Walmart, Lowe's, McDonald's, Ford, and Meta for diminishing DEI at their companies. Look for Dolores to hold more press conferences and protests in the coming weeks.

An iconic image of Dolores with a bullhorn (l) alongside Malala on Inspiration Alley.

Bath Time Gets Political: Lush Rebrands Products in DEI Solidarity

You have to love brands that not only live up to their values – but lean into them in a big way. We wrote about Lush just last week (Quick Hits) for its poetry partnership, and here they come again, this time dropping a DEI bomb on us.

Soap bomb, that is.

Lush is rising to the moment by renaming three of its soap bombs available at its U.S. stores and online. On its website, the retailer says, "In response to the Executive Orders requiring federal agencies to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and commitments, we have temporarily renamed three of our bestselling bath bombs — Thermal Waves, Sakura, and American Cream — to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential in building justice and belonging in the workplace — and beyond."

Hmm. Methinks I'll buy some DEI bath bombs and have them shipped to Dolores Huerta. ❤️

Godspeed, friends.

Russ

💬 Think About It

Source: Unknown -- with thanks to reader Lenny Williams for sharing it with us.

💥 Quick Hits – Costco Edition

It's a buy-cott – The Reverend Al Sharpton led a buy-in, aka "buycott," at a New Jersey Costco, rallying people to shop in support of Costco's pro-DEI position.
States are ganging up –The attorney generals of 19 states are calling on Costco to end its DEI initiatives.
It's a pig pile – New U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is ordering the Justice Department to open criminal investigations of companies with DEI initiatives.
Rainbow hushing — In what is being called "Rainbow hushing," companies are trying to go under the radar with their DEI programs to evade potential lawsuits.

I hadn't heard of buy-cott before, and I'm totally down with it. As for Pam Bondi, does this mean the Justice Department is coming for my business, coming for yours?

🥳 New Year's Resolution Update

Circling back on my "Creative Resolutions" issue, I’m proud to announce my certification from the New Year’s School of Resolutions for successfully going one month without using any exclamation points, not one, zip, zero, zilch, nada. Though I did have one "do-over" as I slipped on January 6th and had to start over. Funny how hard it is to go without these symbols – I had to be diligent and wound up increasing my use of emojis in their place.

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Need help in some way? Have a story idea, question, or request? Perhaps a social entrepreneur we should interview? Let us know – We're here to help. Just reply to this email with whatever you've got. We'll see you next week.