Leaders from PepsiCo have agreed to meet with civil rights advocates from the National Action Network this week. They will be discussing the company’s recent choice to scale back some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as Reverend Al Sharpton disclosed on Monday.
Sharpton previously sent a letter on April 4 to PepsiCo’s CEO Ramon Laguarta, where he expressed the possibility of starting a boycott against the company. PepsiCo, known for brands like Gatorade, Lay’s potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew, and Pepsi, informed its employees in February that they would no longer establish targets for minority representation in managerial positions or among suppliers.
Sharpton plans to have a meeting with Laguarta to address the specifics of PepsiCo’s actions and inquire about the company’s ongoing commitments to ensuring equal opportunities in employment and business contracts.
A spokesperson for PepsiCo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
PepsiCo is one of several companies, including Walmart and Target, that have eliminated policies and programs aimed at increasing diversity among its employees and reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people since President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year.
Trump ended DEI programswithin the federal government and has warned schools to do the same or risk losing federal money.
In January, Sharpton led a “buy-cott” at Costco, encouraging Americans to vote with their dollars and shop at the retail giant for its commitment to DEI policies, even as many of its competitors phased them out.
“That is the only viable tool that I see at this time, which is why we’ve rewarded those that stood with us,” Sharpton told The Associated Press.
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