An MSNBC guest claimed that boycott threats against major retailers like Target amounted to “literal” economic terrorism.
The guest argued, in a video clip that surfaced on Twitter on Tuesday, that such boycotts were proof that a small number of people could control what a store like Target did or did not sell simply by refusing to shop there until the appropriate changes were made.
WATCH:
If you’re boycotting Target you’re a literal terrorist, says talking head on MSNBC. pic.twitter.com/TrlCCw0CAb
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) May 30, 2023
“When Target caves in to this, then it says that the moment you threaten the employees of even a very large corporation, you get to control its policies,” he said. “This is economic terrorism, literally terrorism, creating fear among the workers and forcing the corporations to sell the things you want and not sell the things you don’t.”
Critics quickly responded to the video, saying in a number of tweets that consumers deciding what to buy – and where they would and would not spend their money – was not terrorism at all. Rather, they argued that it was simply capitalism at work.
Target has faced considerable backlash over prominent LGBTQ Pride displays – which include transgender-friendly swimwear and Pride-themed products for babies and toddlers.
When photos and videos showing the Pride products marketed to children went viral, executives reportedly scrambled to avoid what they referred to as a “Bud Light situation” — namely the dramatic loss in market capitalization that hit Anheuser-Busch after Bud Light partnered with controversial trans-identifying influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Following an “emergency call” to mitigate disaster, in some areas of the country, stores have opted to move the displays to more out-of-the-way areas.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
Despite that, calls for a boycott of the retail giant have continued to grow – and by Friday, the Minnesota-based company had seen a 14% drop in stock price. The overall loss in market capitalization was calculated to be about $10 billion over the last ten days.