A national boycott targeting Walmart, McDonald’s and Lowe’s is poised to begin on August 1 and will extend throughout the month, following a series of coordinated economic protests earlier in 2025. Spearheaded by The People’s Union USA, the protest campaign is being billed as the next chapter of its widely publicized “Economic Blackout Tour.”
Since February, the grassroots organization has rolled out a succession of consumer boycotts aimed at major corporations, citing grievances that include rollbacks in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, perceived corporate greed, labor issues and tax avoidance. The inaugural 24‑hour Economic Blackout on February 28 launched this effort, prompting targeted strikes against companies including Amazon, Walmart, Target and General Mills in subsequent weeks.
Following the Walmart week of protest from May 20–26, and a weeklong boycott of McDonald’s from June 24–30, organizers have now announced a month‑long campaign running August 1–31 focusing on Walmart, McDonald’s and Lowe’s. The People’s Union has offered limited detail on specific actions for August but appears to intend an expansion of its earlier boycott model, urging participants to abstain from spending at the branded corporations and redirect their dollars to local businesses.
The June McDonald’s boycott, lasting June 24–30, was organized to protest the company’s scaling back of diversity programs, poor wages, alleged price gouging, and tax avoidance. The group accused McDonald’s of favoring profit over people, performing “DEI stunts” with no systemic change, suppressing worker rights and lobbying against wage increases.
In response, McDonald’s told Newsweek that it remains committed to inclusion, clarified that it employs over 800,000 staffers, works through 2,000 local franchisees, spends millions with local suppliers, contributes billions in taxes annually, and supports community economic growth. The corporation expressed disappointment at what it called misrepresentations of its values and policies, and said it welcomes dialogue with communities.
The founder and main organizer, John Schwarz, framed the movement as one of people‑powered change. He urged consumers to unite around economic discipline and awareness, arguing that withholding spending from corporate giants conveys a powerful message. Schwarz’s group promotes redirecting funds to small, local businesses and insists that reducing corporate profits can shift power back to everyday citizens.
During earlier boycotts, Walmart responded to criticism by noting its status as one of the largest corporate taxpayers, highlighting its community investments, job creation impact, supplier partnerships and charitable donations exceeding $1.7 billion annually. Similarly, The People’s Union has extended its protests to other brands such as Target, Amazon, Home Depot and Nestlé, following a scripted timeline that includes boycotts of Target (June 3–9), a nationwide Fourth of July blackout, and August actions against Lowe’s alongside Walmart and McDonald’s.
Analysts and critics have questioned the measurable economic impact of such protests, suggesting that short‑term revenue dips may not translate into long‑lasting change. Nonetheless, the campaign has been successful in drawing media attention and mobilizing supporters, including endorsements from public figures like Stephen King and Bette Midler during earlier phases.
As August approaches, all eyes will be on whether the next wave of boycott action can generate sustained pressure on these corporate giants—or if it will merely register as another chapter in a broader protest narrative unfolding through 2025.
