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Justice or Else begins holiday shopping boycott
Justice or Else begins holiday shopping boycott
MILWAUKEE -- Not everyone is getting in the Black Friday spirit, there are those calling for a boycott of holiday spending starting today. But how do local businesses and shoppers feel about this idea?
"I don't rock with that boycott at all," said Richard Smith, Black Friday shopper.
Smith is aware he is shopping and on day one of "Justice or Else" -- a boycott of holiday shopping.
When it was announced a few weeks ago by several community leaders and service organizations, it was described as a call for Milwaukee residents to not spend money over the holidays -- unless it would go directly back into black communities.
"That's just the beginning with this boycott, with the withdrawal of our support for a system that doesn't support us," said Craig Stingley, father of Corey Stingley.
Smith says while he understand the thought behind it, he doesn't feel a boycott is the way to make a change.
"The biggest thing is to give back. Whether you shop inside the black community or outside the black community," said Smith.
That's why he's out this Black Friday, giving back to a young man he feels exemplifies positive change.
"He took some money that he didn't plan to use and he completed our family Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, so I'm taking what I have and giving it back to him for what he did yesterday," said Smith.
Richard Smith (right)
The two were part of a small crowd in "Fresh Image," and even though managers weren't even sure if they'd become part of the boycott, they were concerned for the rest of their holiday season.
"Majority of our sales for the entire year comes from the holiday season . It will definitely hurt our overall revenue," said Fresh Image Manager, Young Park.
Patricia McManus
And while they too support the underlying message of the boycott, those behind the movement say it's in response to police brutality, racist attacks and economic injustice.
"I don't know how that is going to help the cause, I don`t know how that is related to us at all," said Park.
"You hit them in the pocketbook, that at least gives them a wake-up a call," said Patricia McManus, President and CEO of the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin.
The boycott started on Black Friday, and goes through the entire holiday shopping season, to January 1st, 2016.