SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Consumers across the U.S. are preparing for a 24-hour economic blackout this Friday, February 28, in an effort to protest corporate greed, price hikes, and the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The question remains—will a one-day boycott make a lasting impact?
Friday’s economic blackout isn’t merely about keeping money in consumers’ wallets—it’s about making a statement. The movement, organized by a group called The People’s Union, calls for Americans to refrain from spending for a full day to push back against corporate policies they see as opportunistic.
Many consumers see this as an opportunity to question the country’s consumer-driven economy. Some believe long-term shifts in spending habits could be even more effective than a single-day boycott.
“I understand the whole point of it, and I get why people feel that way,” says Gisele Abdelfatah, a Syracuse local. “But I think a lot of it has to do with America’s consumerism. We are such a consumer-based economy. The people themselves have to change as well—it’s not only the companies.”
The boycott specifically targets corporate giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, encouraging people to either avoid spending altogether or support small, local businesses instead. But will this movement unintentionally impact small businesses?
“It might a little bit, but I think we’ll still get people,” says Diane Hester, manager of Varsity. “I mean you got people in the hospital, and visitors. They have to eat you know and doctors and nurses, so I’m sure we’ll still get busy.”
Experts say that while a one-day boycott may seem small, it could be the beginning of something bigger.
“The one-day thing is just a start,” says Ranjit Dighe, economics department chair at SUNY Oswego. “It’s a lot easier to get people to sign on for one day than to cancel their Prime subscription. But these things can be effective. A company might want to nip this in the bud—they don’t want to see how far it could go.”
The economic blackout is gaining traction across social media, with hashtags and viral posts encouraging participation. The People’s Union USA has been instrumental in spreading the message, calling on consumers to pause shopping at major retailers in response to rising costs on essentials like food and gas.
Whether this boycott will result in concrete corporate change remains to be seen. However, organizers hope it will at least make consumers more conscious of how and where they spend their money.
As the movement picks up steam, all eyes will be on Friday’s turnout—and on whether corporations take notice.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION: 24 Hour Economic Blackout on Friday, February 28th.
Max: Consumers across the U.S. are gearing up for a 24-hour economic blackout this Friday, February 28. It’s part of a larger movement against corporate greed, price hikes, and the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. But will a one-day boycott make a real impact? Grace Piatko is live with more.
Grace: Friday’s economic blackout isn’t just about saving money, it’s about sending a message. Organized by a group called The People’s Union, the protest encourages Americans to stop spending for a day to push back against what they call exploitative corporate policies.
Grace: Some consumers see this as an opportunity to challenge the country’s consumer-driven economy, questioning whether long-term shifts in spending habits could make a bigger difference.
Gisele Abdelfatah- “I mean I understand like the whole point of it, I understand everything that has to do with it, I get why people feel that way, But I think like a lot of it again has to do with just like America’s consumerism. Like I feel like we are such a consumer-based like economy I feel. So that’s why I think it’s like the people themselves that have to change as well it’s not only the companies.”
Grace: The blackout targets major corporations like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, encouraging people to either refrain from spending or support local businesses instead. But will it impact small businesses?
Diane Hester, Manager of Varsity Pizza: It might a little bit, but I think we’ll still get people, I mean you got people in the hospital, and visitors. They have to eat you know and doctors and nurses, so I’m sure we’ll still get busy.
Grace: Experts say boycotts like this one can be effective, especially if momentum builds beyond a single day.
Ranjit Dighe, Economics department chair at Suny Oswego: “I think uh the one-day thing is, I think you just call that a start, you know, its a lot easier to get people to sign on to do this for one day than for millions to cancel you know their prime subscription, um but these things can be effective a company might want to nip this in the bud, they don’t want to see how far this could go.
Grace: Whether this blackout will bring about lasting change remains to be seen. But for now, organizers hope Friday’s movement will at least get consumers thinking about where, and how, they spend their money.