Advocates want Iowans to boycott Amazon, Home Depot and Target during Black Friday

The ‘We Ain’t Buying It’ campaign hopes consumers use their wallets to hurt companies complying with ‘threats on democracy.’

Under the banner of “We Ain’t Buying It,” a group of pro-democracy organizations hopes to send a message to three of America’s largest companies by asking customers to boycott those retailers from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, the biggest shopping weekend of the year.

Led by Black Voters Matter, Indivisible, Until Freedom, and 50501, the We Ain’t Buying It campaign asks people to use their wallets to exercise their power by not buying anything from Amazon, Home Depot, or Target from Nov. 27 to Dec.1.

“These corporations have given in to the administration’s threats by enabling attacks on workers and shoppers either physically on their property or through loosened DEI initiatives,” said Mariah Tang, an at-large member for the Linn County metro chapter of Indivisible.

“Though these are not the only corporations that have given in to threats on democracy, they are visible and heavily shopped this time of year. Economic pressure is most effective when it is concentrated.”

Instead, Tang asks people to shop locally during this period.

“From Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, we are asking Iowans to pause in-person or online shopping at major corporations that have publicly given in to threats on democracy,” Tang said. “We encourage you instead to spend your dollars at local businesses or on mutual aid efforts during this time.”

According to We Ain’t Buying It, Amazon is being targeted for its “dangerous working conditions for its employees and drivers,” its “monopolistic position” in e-commerce, and founder and chairman Jeff Bezos’ actions, including his support of the Trump administration.

Before the 2024 presidential election, Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post, spiked the paper’s decision to endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which led to multiple resignations on the Post’s editorial board. He then decided that the opinion section should focus primarily on “personal liberties and free markets.”

Additionally, Amazon donated $1 million to President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration, and the conglomerate donated an unspecified amount to Trump’s $300 million ballroom being constructed on the East Wing of the White House.

We Ain’t Buying It organizers have accused Home Depot of cooperating with US Border Patrol and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to round up undocumented immigrants. Home Depot parking lots have long been used as gathering spots for day laborers, some of whom are undocumented, which has led to ICE raids at various locations.

However, in multiple media reports, Home Depot has denied coordinating the raids with federal agencies.

“We aren’t notified that immigration enforcement activities are going to happen, and we aren’t involved in the operations,” a Home Depot a spokesperson told Newsweek. “We aren’t coordinating with ICE or Border Patrol. We’re required to follow all federal and local rules and regulations in every market where we operate.”

Home Depot operates Iowa stores in Ankeny, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Urbandale, Waterloo, and West Des Moines.

Lastly, Target is on organizers’ boycott list after many long-time customers felt betrayed by the Minnesota-based company publicly abandoning many of its long-held diversity principles to capitulate to anti-DEI measures being pushed by the Trump administration.

Target has Iowa stores in Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Mason City, Sioux City, Urbandale, Waterloo, Waukee, West Burlington, and West Des Moines.

“Corporate dollars, actions, and inactions are powering the current administration’s ability to harm, threaten, and abuse people on American soil,” said Tang. “During the biggest shopping weekend of the year, we hope to make the message clear that the real power lies with the people.”