Economic blackout protesters call for McDonald’s boycott to fight greed

McDonald's is now at the center of a week-long boycott organized by The People's Union USA, a grassroots advocacy group leading the "economic blackout" movement. The boycott aims to protest against the fast-food giant's alleged price-gouging practices, insufficient tax contributions, and rollback of diversity programs. The campaign, spearheaded by John Schwarz, calls for consumer abstention from McDonald's starting this Tuesday and continuing through the following Monday.

The People's Union USA has previously targeted other corporations, such as Amazon and Walmart, with varying success. The group accuses McDonald's of undermining labor rights, exploiting supply chains, and performing insincere diversity efforts. According to The Independent, the advocacy group asserts that McDonald's political lobbying conflicts with its publicly stated values of inclusion and equality.

In response, McDonald's has denied the allegations, emphasizing its dedication to community interaction and the economic opportunities it provides. As reported by CNN, the corporation stated, "The McDonald's System generates billions in federal, state, and local taxes annually, and we’ll continue to pay our fair share."

Boycotts are notoriously challenging to coordinate, yet attention is intensifying on McDonald's amid financial downturns. The company recently acknowledged a series of sales drops, with many customers citing high prices during economic instability as a contributing factor. According to Yahoo News, McDonald's prices have surged nearly 40% since 2019, bringing public scrutiny to its pricing strategies.

Despite the relatively low impact of a similar boycott against Amazon, The People's Union USA believes that continued action might forge meaningful change. The coalition has garnered backing from influential supporters, including Stephen King and John Leguizamo, whose endorsements have fueled a GoFundMe endeavor that has raised over $125,000 within four months.

This intense focus on a familiar brand underscores growing unrest over corporate governance and accountability across the consumer landscape.