Campaign Urges Black Friday Boycott of Companies Linked to ICE
A new advocacy campaign seeks to boycott major corporations linked to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its practices. Launched by the Gen Z-led group Beyond the Ballot, the campaign is titled “Not With My Dollars: ICE Out of My Wallet.” It aims to draw attention to companies profiting from or collaborating with ICE, particularly during the shopping frenzy of Black Friday.
Campaign Highlights
- Targeted Companies: Amazon, Whole Foods, Dell, Microsoft, Home Depot, Spotify, and Target.
- Campaign Launch: Just prior to Black Friday.
- Focus: Raise awareness about corporate complicity in ICE operations and advocate for accountability.
Victor Rivera, the executive director of Beyond the Ballot, emphasized the need for individuals to stop financially supporting companies that enable what he described as “state-sponsored abductions.” The organization believes that contributing to these corporations indirectly funds the actions of ICE.
Specific Corporate Actions and Demands
- Amazon: Its cloud service, Amazon Web Services (AWS), is crucial for ICE’s operations. The campaign urges consumers to refrain from shopping at Amazon and cancel Prime subscriptions.
- Whole Foods: As part of Amazon, every purchase enhances their capabilities linked to ICE.
- Home Depot: Criticized for facilitating ICE arrests in their stores and parking lots without proper legal warrants.
- Microsoft: Under scrutiny for a $19.4 million contract with ICE, which entails providing advanced data processing capabilities.
- Dell: Linked to an $18.8 million contract for supplying Microsoft software licenses to the ICE chief information officer.
- Spotify: Criticized for broadcasting ICE recruitment ads, prompting calls for a boycott.
- Target: Accused of cooperating with the Trump administration’s “racist policies,” the campaign seeks to press for the reinstatement of halted diversity initiatives.
Action Steps for Supporters
The campaign’s website provides details on each company’s ties to ICE, suggests alternative shopping options, and outlines specific actions that supporters can take. Alternatives to consider include:
- Local bookstores over Amazon.
- Purchasing directly from brands or independent retailers.
- Utilizing cooperatives for purchases.
Beyond the Ballot aims for this boycott to have lasting impact beyond the holiday shopping season. The focus is not just on raising awareness but on encouraging corporations to meet the campaign’s demands for accountability.
Conclusion
The “Not With My Dollars” campaign encapsulates a growing sentiment among activists who believe that corporate partnerships with ICE must end. As many disenfranchised communities face increasing challenges, this initiative aims to make financial support for ICE-related companies unprofitable.
