Al Sharpton calls on PepsiCo to restore DEI initiatives, threatens boycott

The Rev.Al Sharpton is giving PepsiCo three weeks to meet with him — or suffer a boycott — to discuss reversing the company’s recent move to do away with its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, according to a letter shared with The Associated Press.On Friday, Sharpton wrote to PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta expressing his “profound disappointment” that the company would end inclusion commitments that both helped build its brand and fostered trust with millions of its customers.“You have walked away from equity,” Sharpton wrote in the letter, adding that removing DEI hiring and retention goals and dismantling community partnerships with minority organizations “are clear signals that political pressure has outweighed principle.”Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, announced in January that the civil rights organization would identify two companies in the next 90 days that will be boycotted for abandoning their DEI pledges.A spokesperson for PepsiCo said it had not received the letter and was unable to comment.PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies in North America.

Its brands include Gatorade, Lay’s potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi.In a memo sent to employees in February, Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base.Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year, U.S.government agencies, companies and schools have scrambled to reevaluate policies and programs aimed at increasing diversity among its employees and reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to do the same or risk losing federal money.

Large retailers like Walmart and Target have also phased out DEI initiatives since Trump took office.Following decades of activism and protests by marginalized gro...