In late June 2025, McDonald’s became the latest target of a coordinated week‑long boycott led by grassroots group The People’s Union USA, as part of its wider “economic blackout” campaign. Here’s what you need to know:
🔍 What’s the Boycott About?
- The boycott ran from June 24 to June 30, urging Americans to avoid spending at McDonald’s as a stand for fair taxes, price regulation, corporate accountability, and real equality (houstonchronicle.com).
- Protestors highlighted McDonald’s rollback of internal DEI policies (diversity, equity, and inclusion), including watering down leadership diversity goals and pausing external inclusivity surveys — actions linked to shifts in federal policy (wral.com).
- Beyond DEI, the group also spotlighted issues such as low wages, price gouging (McDonald’s item prices up ~40% since 2019), and alleged tax avoidance .
📉 Why Now? Timing & Strategy
- McDonald’s has recently faced downward trends, including consecutive quarters of same-store sales declines— its steepest since 2020 (nypost.com).
- This boycott follows a series of actions earlier this year targeting Walmart, Target, and Amazon for similar grievances (mysanantonio.com).
- There’s also talk of escalating protests — including a proposed Independence Day “blackout” and further corporate boycotts geared around summer and early autumn (houstonchronicle.com).
💬 McDonald’s Pushback
- The fast-food giant defended its record, stating it provides economic opportunities, supports local communities, and remains committed to inclusion and diversity (houstonchronicle.com).
- However, experts caution that while week-long boycotts make strong statements, evidence suggests they usually have limited immediate financial impact (axios.com).
- But history shows impact is possible: Target’s earlier boycott resulted in a notable dip in sales and a lowered forecast .
🧭 Broader Implications
- The economic blackout movement isn’t just about McDonald’s — it reflects a growing trend toward consumer-driven corporate accountability, especially around labor practices, taxation, DEI, and pricing fairness (economy.ac).
- Such action could influence how corporations structure DEI initiatives, wage policies, and tax strategies — especially if these campaigns gain momentum or prolong .
🔎 Bottom Line
McDonald’s is in the spotlight amid a mounting consumer revolt over DEI rollbacks, rising prices, worker pay, and corporate taxes. While this week-long boycott may not drastically dent earnings, it underscores the power of consumer solidarity. And history tells us that sustained action — similar to Target’s experience — can drive corporate shifts.
Whether you think, “It’s just McNuggets,” or “This matters,” it’s worth watching if consumer activism like this sparks tangible change — or fades out quickly as trends shift.