Minneapolis, MN
Local activists call for Target boycott after the Minneapolis-based retailer rolled back DEI initiatives
Racial justice group leaders called for a national boycott of Target during a rally Thursday in front of the offices of the Minneapolis-based retailer.
Target announced last week that it would end its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and investments. The initiatives include a program it established aimed at helping Black employees build meaningful careers, improving the experience of Black shoppers and promoting Black-owned businesses, following the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Becky Dankowski holds an anti-Target sign during a news conference outside Target Corporation’s headquarters.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News
Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong said the boycott against Target will begin on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month.
She said they believe Target phasing out DEI programs is “completely unacceptable.”
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Levy Armstrong, who had her 7-year-old daughter Assata Armstrong by her side, said the group believes that “this decision was not made independently by Target, but it was made as a result of the pressure that is coming from the White House and the administration under Donald Trump.”
“They acted cowardly, and they made the decision to bow down to the Trump administration when we are here today, saying we will not bow down,” Levy Armstrong said.
She added that different ethnic groups and races make up the “fabric of America and our presence in this country should be embraced.”
She and others at the event urged people to shop at businesses that are committed to DEI efforts.
Protesters hold signs, including a repurposed Target bag reading “You said ‘expect more.’ We do!” during a demonstration outside Target Corporation’s headquarters.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News
Another rally speaker, activist Sheletta Brundidge, also addressed the crowd with her daughter by her side. She said the community shouldn’t have to wage battles repeatedly.
“I don’t want to fight the same fight that my grandmother fought in. I don’t want my daughter to be out here with Nekima’s daughter in 20 years fighting the same battle. Which is why we have to make our voices heard now,” Brundidge said. “We have to create lasting change, and we have to stop shopping at Target.”
The announcement from Target follows an executive order by President Donald Trump to end federal DEI programs.
Target said in its next chapter, they will continue to create “inclusive work and guest environments that welcome all.”
“Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, wrote in a memo to employees, which Target shared Friday. “As a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”
Nekima Levy Armstrong said the company “didn’t understand that its decision was not only offensive, but it’s bad for business.”
Akshay Rao, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota, agrees. He told MPR News that ending DEI programs could alienate customers.
“Choosing to not incorporate those points of view is going to limit their ability to cater to those people, and that will have an effect not only because those people will go elsewhere but because competitors will then leap into the fray and say, ‘hey come talk to me. I’m friendly to you,’” Rao said.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, a local civil rights lawyer and activist speaks to media during a news conference outside Target Corporation’s headquarters.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News
In response to Target’s announcement, Twin Cities Pride removed the company from its June LGBTQ+ festival.
“The community is just very disappointed that someone like Target, who has been a staple in our corner for so many years, has made this decision and not made the decision to stand up against those who are fighting against us,” said Twin Cities Pride executive director Andi Otto.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis salon is turning heads by mixing rock and roll with haircuts, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for music lovers.
A salon where music and haircuts go hand in hand
What we know:
HiFi Hair and Records sits on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, marked by a leopard print awning and a vibe that’s all about community through music.
“I tried to model it after a barbershop,” said Jonny Clifford, owner of the salon.
Clifford opened the shop in 2011, inspired by his father who introduced him to music and was battling terminal cancer at the time.
The salon brings together the hum of blow dryers and the sounds of rock and roll, with Clifford saying, “Music is the uniter. Most everyone who is alive today grew up on rock and roll.”
He added a record store the following year, letting customers browse new and used vinyl and CDs while waiting for their appointment.
“I jokingly refer to it as the coolest waiting room in the city,” said Clifford.
The shop is filled with memorabilia from music legends like Elvis, David Bowie and The Monkees. There’s even a wall dedicated to Minnesota’s local music scene.
Clifford said, “We’ve got Bobby V who I think never gets enough credit for his contributions to music in Minnesota.”
Clifford’s journey from punk haircuts to community hub
Why you should care:
Clifford started cutting hair in the early 1980s because he and his friends in southwest Minneapolis couldn’t afford the punk haircuts they wanted.
Now, he not only looks the part—”Ronny Wood, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, I’m always like old Keith Richards or young Keith Richards”—but he helps others feel like rock stars too.
“People are like make me look like a rock star and that is sort of a universal term right. Everyone wants to look like a rock star,” said Clifford.
His goal is simple:
“If I can make a living and raise my family, pay my bills, have a business and be a part of a community, that is important to me. I win. That’s everything,” said Clifford.
He is passionate about giving a boost to local musicians, saying, “I think they need it more. I love Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones, but they are doing fine. Our local people haven’t made it national yet. They could use a voice. They could use a boost, and they need to be heard.”
The salon’s rhythm is all about joy, music and community, and Clifford plans to keep it going.
“Til I kick over. I’ll probably be back standing behind the chair. And someone will complain I didn’t finish their haircut,” said Clifford.
HiFi Hair and Records continues to be a place where music and style meet, giving Minnesota’s music scene a little extra volume.
Minneapolis, MN
Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run
EDINA, Minn. (FOX 9) – A deadly shooting in Edina sparked a massive police response and forced a lockdown at nearby businesses at Southdale Mall on Wednesday as police are searching for the suspects.
Deadly Edina shooting
What we know:
Edina police responded around 12:30 p.m. to the report of a shooting along West 66th Street near Southdale Mall.
At the scene, officers found one victim with a gunshot wound. Officers tried to revive the victim but say they ultimately died from their wounds.
Local perspective:
Police say the suspects ran from the scene. As a precaution, they advised nearby businesses to go into lockdown. FOX 9 learned that MHealth Fairview also went into lockdown procedures as a precaution.
Aerial video from the scene showed the investigation appeared to be focused around an apartment building across from the mall. Police say the apartment building is described as a transitional housing.
Avoid the area
Big picture view:
Police are asking the public to avoid the area as the investigation is underway. Officers have blocked off West 66th for the time being.
Police say they are looking for more than one suspect involved in the shooting.
What we don’t know:
Police say some people were taken into custody at the scene but it’s unclear what their role was in relation to the shooting.
Law enforcement near the 3300 block of W. 66th Street in Edina. (FOX 9)
Minneapolis, MN
Ellison, Minneapolis, St. Paul update lawsuit against Operation Metro Surge with new data
(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis and Saint Paul updated their lawsuit over Operation Metro Surge with new survey data on economic harm.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego conducted two surveys tied to the amended lawsuit. The lawsuit says the federal operation violated the Constitution and caused lasting economic damage.
The first survey was done between February and March and included nearly 1,400 residents. It found workers lost more than $240 million in wages during the operation.
A separate newly released survey of about 900 businesses found more than $600 million in lost revenue. The updated lawsuit from Keith Ellison and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul adds that new data to its claims.
-
Austin, TX5 minutes ago
Athletes Race at USA Triathlon Cross National Championships in Austin, Texas
-
Alabama11 minutes agoAlabama boy’s secret Facebook post asking for cancer drug grabs national attention
-
Alaska17 minutes agoDemocratic U.S. House PAC has Alaska in its sights
-
Arizona23 minutes agoArizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #25: 4/23 vs. White Sox
-
Arkansas29 minutes ago$40 million steel processing plant planned for Osceola, developers say
-
California35 minutes agoDozens of Mexican mafia members arrested in California
-
Colorado41 minutes ago
Federal judge orders release of family of man charged in Colorado firebomb attack
-
Connecticut47 minutes agoNew Haven’s Chapel Street shift from one-way to two-way traffic brings confusion, concerns