Even as anti-Israel protests disrupted Black Friday shopping — all over the United States and beyond — outgoing President Joe Biden was seen exiting a Nantucket bookstore with an anti-Israel volume clutched in his arms.
The protests were documented in several cities across the country — everywhere from Boston and New York City to Chicago and Seattle — where they blocked traffic on the streets and harassed shoppers in local malls.
&#8220;Bombs are dropping, why are you shopping?&#8221; protesters demanded as customers attempted to find their post-Thanksgiving deals in New York City&#8217;s Columbus Circle.
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&quot;Bombs are dropping, why are you shopping?”
Pro-Palestinian protesters harass Black Friday shoppers in NYC. <a href="https://t.co/eAnoxWtraV">pic.twitter.com/eAnoxWtraV</a>
&mdash; Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) <a href="https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1728147955163582482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Some in the Palestinian crowd in NYC are now giving the middle finger to Black Friday shoppers: <a href="https://t.co/D5VXbLl2WL">pic.twitter.com/D5VXbLl2WL</a>
&mdash; Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Julio_Rosas11/status/1728131985879757116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Protesters blocked traffic for an hour on the Magnificent Mile on Black Friday to highlight the ongoing war in Gaza to holiday shoppers and to call for boycotts of major retailers that do business in Israel,&#8221; The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
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Protesters blocked traffic for an hour on the Magnificent Mile on Black Friday to highlight the ongoing war in Gaza to holiday shoppers and to call for boycotts of major retailers that do business in Israel.<a href="https://t.co/2Au5CUdyB3">https://t.co/2Au5CUdyB3</a>
&mdash; Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Suntimes/status/1862665759828136029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Protest at the Apple store in U Village, the store has now shut down on Black Friday and protestors say they’ve been trespassed and told if they don’t leave they will be arrested,&#8221; KOMO News reporter Lynnanne Nguyen reported.
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Protest at the Apple store in U Village, the store has now shut down on Black Friday and protestors say they’ve been trespassed and told if they don’t leave they will be arrested <a href="https://twitter.com/komonews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@komonews</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZcgRTlpzjx">pic.twitter.com/ZcgRTlpzjx</a>
&mdash; Lynnanne Nguyen (@LynnanneNguyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/LynnanneNguyen/status/1862630861189050654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Protesters also hit the streets in Santa Monica, California.
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Black Friday Boycott: Pro-Palestine Protesters Rally in Downtown Santa Monica<a href="https://t.co/8uAwpWVpX2">https://t.co/8uAwpWVpX2</a> <a href="https://t.co/Oj6jV9cGSR">pic.twitter.com/Oj6jV9cGSR</a>
&mdash; Santa Monica Closeup (@smcloseup) <a href="https://twitter.com/smcloseup/status/1862691908616634769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Happening now: Pro-Hamas protesters led by USPCN are marching in the streets of Chicago to disturb Black Friday shopping screaming about boycotting Apple while using their iPhones&#8230; Can&#8217;t make this up folks!&#8221; Angela Van Der Pluym posted.
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Happening now: Pro-Hamas protesters led by USPCN are marching in the streets of Chicago to disturb Black Friday shopping screaming about boycotting Apple while using their iPhones&#8230; 
Can&#39;t make this up folks! <a href="https://t.co/deiuJ14NH4">https://t.co/deiuJ14NH4</a> <a href="https://t.co/W6shf5ObFI">pic.twitter.com/W6shf5ObFI</a>
&mdash; Angela Van Der Pluym (@anjewla90) <a href="https://twitter.com/anjewla90/status/1862578631131730140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Protesters also swarmed Boston&#8217;s Copley Mall.
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BREAKING: Pro-Palestine protesters in Boston flood into one of Boston&#39;s largest malls, Copley Place, to disrupt Black Friday shopping. <a href="https://t.co/clp2FiTPLS">pic.twitter.com/clp2FiTPLS</a>
&mdash; Stu (@thestustustudio) <a href="https://twitter.com/thestustustudio/status/1862595159705141655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The protests also stretched outside the United States, reaching Montreal, Canada, and even London.
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HAPPENING NOW 🚨 Oxford St, London📍 
Anti-Israel mob Youth Demand are blocking the roads and annoying everyone on Black Friday.
Yesterday the Anti-Israel lot tried to storm Downing Street and tomorrow they have another march planned through London.
It’s every bloody day now. <a href="https://t.co/sKMcqcaMIo">pic.twitter.com/sKMcqcaMIo</a>
&mdash; Kosher🎗🧡 (@koshercockney) <a href="https://twitter.com/koshercockney/status/1862586801656922515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, a vacationing President Biden was seen leaving Nantucket Bookworks clutching a copy of &#8220;The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017.”
The book&#8217;s author, Columbia University professor emeritus Rashid Khalidi, responded to the news by telling <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/29/us-news/biden-picks-up-anti-israel-book-during-black-friday-shopping-4-years-too-late-says-author/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Post</a>, &#8220;I do not speak to the Post (or the Times for that matter), so this is not for publication, but my reaction is that this is 4 years too late.&#8221;
As The Post noted, the outlet &#8220;did not offer or agree to any terms conditioning that response as off the record or on background.&#8221;
Khalidi&#8217;s book posits that &#8220;the modern history of Palestine can best be understood in these terms: as a colonial war waged against the indigenous population, by a variety of parties, to force them to relinquish their homeland to another people against their will.&#8221;
Khalidi himself has also lashed out at President-elect Donald Trump, claiming that during his first term in the White House, he was effectively an Israeli &#8220;mouthpiece.&#8221;

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

Anti-Israel Protests Disrupt Black Friday Shopping; Biden Exits Bookstore With Anti-Israel Tome

anti-Israel

Black Friday

Israel

Protests

A new notification system unveiled on Tuesday will warn parents just before holiday shopping goes into hyperdrive that some of the largest and most beloved corporations in the United States are funding the radical Human Rights Campaign as it pushes transgender ideology on American children
The American Parents Coalition has dubbed their parental notification system, &#8220;<a href="https://americanparentscoalition.org/thelookout/">The Lookout</a>,&#8221; and says it will inform parents that some of the places they will likely shop this Black Friday and beyond are part of the HRC&#8217;s network of corporate backers. This includes companies like Disney, Target, Google, and Amazon, none of which responded to requests for comment.
&#8220;By spending money at these corporations that partner with Human Rights Campaign, parents and children may be unwittingly funding Human Rights Campaign’s mission to normalize transgender ideology for kids,&#8221; the American Parents Coalition warns.
The &#8220;Lookout&#8221; system will alert parents via text message about the HRC&#8217;s influence on their children&#8217;s lives, and which companies are part of supporting the effort.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1732733170007000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Ds4byPWBJabufYI2zuI7e">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
The group helps parents determine which companies are &#8220;promoting gender ideology through their funding of Human Rights Campaign,&#8221; and teaches parents how to check their favorite company&#8217;s score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index — the mechanism thought to be behind Bud Light&#8217;s disastrous decision to use Dylan Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, as its public face.
Through the Corporate Equality Index and the Healthcare Equality Index, the HRC sways the practices of hospitals and corporations across the country by scoring these organizations based on how inclusive and pro-LGTBQ they are. To score well, hospitals and corporations must promote LGBTQ policies and engage publicly with the LGBTQ community through social media posts, programs, and events.
For hospitals, this might mean allowing patients or employees to use bathrooms or facilities that align with their gender identity, rather than their actual biological sex. It can also mean offering so-called gender-affirming care, the activist phrase for transgender surgeries, hormones, and puberty blockers, even for children.
As the American Parents Coalition campaign points out, the HRC also has a number of programs promoting gender ideology to children, including the &#8220;Welcoming Schools Program&#8221; that provides training, lesson plans, and resources to teachers and other educational professionals working with kids. It offers a list of &#8220;LGBTQ+ inclusive&#8221; books for elementary students, including a book about a little girl realizing she has &#8220;more-than-friend feelings&#8221; for her stepsister, a book about gay penguin dads, and others.
Another book encouraged by the program, for kids in pre-school to third grade, is the story of a girl, Penelope, who believes she is a boy. The book&#8217;s stated goal is to &#8220;help students understand what it means to be transgender using developmentally appropriate language for younger students.&#8221;
The idea behind the program is to create LGBTQ and gender-inclusive schools, the group emphasizes: &#8220;A key focus of our program is to provide comprehensive resources for educators to teach about transgender and non-binary people and to affirm all students&#8217; identities across the gender spectrum,&#8221; the program states.
The HRC did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this story.

After Target Lowers Sales Forecast, Shares Plummet

EXCLUSIVE: Ahead Of Black Friday, ‘Lookout’ System Will Help Parents Avoid Woke Companies

Christmas

LGBTQ

Transgender

U.S. online sales on Black Friday spiked 7.5% from last year as more people <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fewer-people-trek-into-retail-stores-on-black-friday-heres-how-you-can-shop-from-home-and-avoid-the-woke-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chose to shop</a> from the comfort of their homes instead of trekking out into retail stores. 
Shoppers spent a record <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/25/black-friday-shoppers-spent-a-record-9point8-billion-in-us-online-sales-up-7point5percent-from-last-year.html">$9.8 billion online</a> on Black Friday, which was bolstered by online deals and discounts, according to Adobe Analytics, CNBC reported. The numbers come after online spending on Thanksgiving day was up 5.5% from 2022, generating $5.6 billion.
&#8220;I think people are going to still spend on travel and leisure activities that might be online and not necessarily in stores,&#8221; said Jimmy Lee, CEO of The Wealth Consulting Group. 
&#8220;The excitement of waiting in lines on Black Friday &#8211; there&#8217;s not as much of that anymore. A lot of people &#8230;. would rather just sit at home and look for deals,&#8221; Lee added. 
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Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2023/11/13/anticipating-better-deals-to-come-shoppers-will-bypass-black-friday/?sh=38dbdc84755f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that 52% of U.S. consumers planned to skip Black Friday shopping altogether, and another <a href="https://retailboss.co/black-friday-2023-trends-shopping-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found that this year, 68% of consumers were expected to shop online for holiday deals. Also, 66% will hunt for bargains on Cyber Monday. 
Online shopping for Black Friday was expected to bring in nearly $10 billion. Retail companies that posted poor earnings reports over the past year hoped the holiday deals would boost their sales and offset the dismal year. 
Companies such as Target, Native, Harry’s, Hershey’s, Nike, and Apple are also trying to bring back conservative shoppers, many of whom have called for boycotts after the brands pushed transgenderism onto customers over the past year.

Black Friday Online Shopping

U.S. Online Sales Set Record On Black Friday As More Shoppers Opt To Stay Home

Daily Wire Shop

Economy

U.S.

It’s the year 2023 and now more than ever people have options. While Black Friday shopping of years past meant standing in line at 3 a.m. outside a Walmart in hopes of scoring the last Furby, these days things have become slightly more civilized. Shoppers can still hit the stores at 3 a.m. if they want to. But now it’s possible – and preferable – to do so from the comfort of the living room. 
It’s no surprise to find that the biggest shopping day of the year is losing its luster. Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2023/11/13/anticipating-better-deals-to-come-shoppers-will-bypass-black-friday/?sh=38dbdc84755f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that 52% of U.S. consumers plan to skip Black Friday shopping altogether. Consumers start their holiday shopping much earlier in the season these days as big retailers start their promotions earlier and earlier in November. Plus, many shoppers are waiting until closer to the holidays in hopes of scoring bigger discounts. They’re fed up with the lines, the crowds, and the time it takes to drive around hunting down the best bargains. That’s a big reason why online shopping is booming and shows no signs of slowing down.
Another <a href="https://retailboss.co/black-friday-2023-trends-shopping-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found that this year, 68% of consumers will choose to shop online for holiday deals. Also, 66% will hunt for bargains on Cyber Monday. Two and a half times more people will seek their Black Friday deals online rather than venturing into stores this weekend. 
Online shopping has another huge bonus: it allows for a lot more transparency and thoughtful money spending. A full 36% more shoppers are planning to shop on Small Business Saturday. This marketing initiative is meant to steer shoppers away from big retail and encourage them to support independent businesses. Often this shopping day is a matter of embracing certain values — an aspect of shopping that consumers made clear earlier this year still matters. Following successful boycotts of big brands like Bud Light and Target after their egregious progressive virtue signaling, shoppers this season are buoyed by the power of their dollar spends. 
Thanks to the magical power of online ordering, shoppers can seek out like-minded companies and put their support behind those products instead of continuing to patronize woke corporations. One of the best places to find non-woke merchandise that makes for great gifts is at <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Wire Shop</a>.
As an alternative to woke companies pushing radical leftist talking points, The Daily Wire Shop is offering discounts on all sorts of products. Shoppers can check out the one-of-a-kind Golden Truffle Tumbler, a limited edition version of the Leftist Tears Tumbler that’s on sale right now. Bentkey kids merchandise is also in stock for the holidays along with <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/collections/matt-walsh/products/matt-walsh-flannel-grey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt&#8217;s flannels</a>, <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/collections/ben-shapiro/products/forward-flag-polo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben’s polos</a>, and <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/collections/brett-cooper/products/brett-cooper-hat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brett’s caps</a>.   
The Daily Wire is also running its best deal of the year on an annual membership, which offers 50% off insider access to all DailyWire+ movies, documentaries, and series, uncensored ad-free daily shows, deep dive investigative journalism and op-eds, and unlimited ad-free kids entertainment.
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Black Friday Shopping

Fewer People Trek Into Retail Stores On Black Friday. Here’s How You Can Shop From Home And Avoid The Woke Companies.

Wokeness

Over the past year, numerous companies have placed themselves in the middle of a culture war and taken the side of radical gender theory and leftism, dumping millions of dollars into radical LGBTQ groups such as the Trevor Project and the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). These corporations’ endorsement of life-altering gender procedures and promotion of biological men in women’s spaces have sparked outrage and calls for boycotts from many conservatives this year, but now, the pro-Left companies are looking to gain favor back with shoppers during the Black Friday shopping weekend. 
Popular brands and companies like Target, Native, Harry’s, Hershey’s, Nike, and Apple have all pushed transgender ideology onto customers over the past year. And this week, these companies will beckon shoppers to their doors and websites in hopes of cashing out for the holiday season. But along with all the deals offered by these companies, this Black Friday comes a bevy of woke ideas being crammed down consumers’ throats. 
Here are the popular Black Friday companies that will likely offer deals this holiday weekend as they continue to push radical gender theories and even target children with some of their Pride-themed merchandise:
Target
The Minneapolis-based retail giant went all in on Pride Month earlier this year, even featuring LGBTQ-themed products aimed at children in the front of its stores. Among Target’s Pride-themed products featured on store shelves over the summer were a children’s swimsuit with a tag reading “thoughtfully fit on multiple body types and gender expressions” and LGBTQ-themed books such as “The Pronoun Book” and “Bye Bye Binary.” The retail giant also featured an adult “Pride” collection, which included “tuck-friendly” swimsuits for men who identify as women to tuck their genitals, a t-shirt with the words “Queer Queer Queer Queer,” and a hoodie reading “Not A Phase.”
The corporation also <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/05/26/target-gave-2-1m-to-group-that-urges-schools-to-hide-kids-gender-from-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> over $2 million to GLSEN, a radical LBGTQ organization that encourages children to hide their gender changes from parents. “We&#8217;re proud to partner with GLSEN for more than a decade, working to ensure students have a safe place to learn. Target annually supports GLSEN and its mission to create affirming, accessible and antiracist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students,” Target <a href="https://corporate.target.com/sustainability-governance/our-team/diversity-equity-inclusion/team-members-guests/lgbtqia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> on its website. 
Target came under fire again this week for selling Pride-themed nutcrackers and disabled Santa ornaments. The account End Wokeness shared images of an ornament of a black Santa Claus in a wheelchair displayed on a Target shelf. The account also highlighted a Pride nutcracker figurine wearing a Pride-striped hat and holding a Progress Pride flag. The product description encourages buyers to “show your love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community” by displaying this decoration. Both items are available for sale on Target’s website.
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Target outdid itself this year for Christmas <a href="https://t.co/F0YpLmOrkt">pic.twitter.com/F0YpLmOrkt</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1724590949899092243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Target has already pushed a huge marketing campaign to get the word out about its Black Friday deals, landing articles in major national news outlets and shopping sites. The company is hoping to offset two straight negative earnings reports after it faced blowback for its Pride-themed merchandise. 
Harry’s
After pulling its advertising with The Daily Wire over comments from host Michael Knowles on transgenderism it deemed “inexcusable,” razor company Harry’s has only dug itself deeper into the pit of radical gender theory. In June of 2022, for Pride Month, Harry’s partnered with a woman who identified as a man to sell a razor set to men. The razor company <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfWzJnspHuW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=d3a5cbee-ee9f-497f-ab25-355a7225eb64">said</a> 100% of its profits for the razor set would go to the Trevor Project, a radical LGBTQ organization that encourages minors to undergo life-altering gender procedures. 
“Celebrating my first Pride with facial hair!” Luke Wesley Pearson said at the time. “@harrys and their sibling brand @meetflamingo worked with @ohnilisle, an artist from the LGBTQ+ community, to design this year&#8217;s Face &amp; Body Shave Set: It includes one razor handle, a Harry&#8217;s razor for your face, and a Flamingo razor for your body. And the best part? 100% of profits from the set are donated to @trevorproject. Feeling handsome and proud to be me every day of the year.”
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Harry’s Razors partnered with a “trans man” (female) to promote their razor set
100% of the profits from this set go to the Trevor Project, which promotes gender surgeries for minors <a href="https://t.co/Sb6ZbBT0GA">pic.twitter.com/Sb6ZbBT0GA</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1688015091088707584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Then in June of this year, Harry’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtRozcxssXK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=5d4de2a6-6d59-4361-927b-d6c215050a31" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> more money to the Trevor Project, with $5 from every “Pride Shave” set sold going to the organization. 
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Hershey’s
The chocolate company faced calls for a boycott earlier this year after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boycott-hersheys-trends-on-twitter-as-brand-features-man-who-identifies-as-trans-in-international-womens-day-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promoting</a> a biological man as part of its International Women’s Day celebration. Fae Johnstone was one of five people featured in the campaign, which used the Hershey’s SHE bar to “shine a light on the women and girls who inspire us every day.”
“We can create a world where everyone is able to live in the public space as their honest and authentic selves. See the women changing how we see the future,” Johnstone said in a promotional video.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/Hersheys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hersheys</a> is putting the face of a trans-&quot;woman&quot; on chocolate bar wrappers with &quot;HerShe&quot; highlighted in honor of international women&#39;s day. Hershey&#39;s is erasing women. <a href="https://t.co/JzRkAtwTdO">pic.twitter.com/JzRkAtwTdO</a>
&mdash; Leftism (@LeftismForU) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeftismForU/status/1631072298806509568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The backlash to the pro-trans marketing campaign led to The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nuts-or-nutless-the-daily-wire-launches-jeremys-chocolates-after-hersheys-trans-farce-insults-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launching</a> its own chocolate company, Jeremy’s Chocolate, which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jeremys-chocolate-sells-half-a-million-chocolate-bars-within-days-of-launch">sold</a> over half a million chocolate bars within days of going live. 
Native
Like Harry’s and Hershey’s, Native has partnered with a trans-identifying person multiple times to promote its product earlier this year. Last year, biological male and trans-identifying social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney partnered with the company and the Trevor Project to “share [his] story.” Mulvaney <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dylanmulvaney/video/7109630752328830251?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he partnered with Native mainly because it was partnering with the Trevor Project and donating $50,000 to the radical LGBTQ organization. Earlier this year, Mulvaney made another <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@native/video/7198272152368336171" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> for Native deodorant to boost the company’s gummy-bear scented deodorant. Months later, Mulvaney would set another company ablaze in controversy after he partnered with Bud Light and received a specialized beer can with his face on it. 
Nike
Less than a week after Mulvaney’s Bud Light partnership blew up on social media, the trans-identifying influencer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stop-giving-them-your-money-nike-partners-with-dylan-mulvaney-ignites-fury-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appeared</a> in a paid social media video dancing in Nike women’s gear. In the sponsored Nike ad, Mulvaney showed off women’s leggings and a sports bra. Mulvaney captioned his Nike gear post, “Home for a moment and leaning into cozy workout wear life with [Nike Women]’s newest Zenvy leggings and Alate bra! They’re so comfortable and buttery soft, perfect for workouts and everyday wear! #feelyourall #teamnike #nikepartner.”
After backlash to promoting Mulvaney as a voice for women, Nike <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nike-scolds-critics-upset-about-partnership-with-trans-activist-dylan-mulvaney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scolded</a> critics who voiced their outrage over the partnership. 
“You are an essential component to the success of your community!” Nike said in a pinned comment on its official Instagram page. “We welcome comments that contribute to a positive and constructive discussion: Be kind ❤️ Be inclusive ❤️Encourage each other ❤️.”
“Hate speech, bullying, or other behaviors that are not in the spirit of a diverse and inclusive community will be deleted,” the comment added.
Nike’s radical LGBTQ campaign didn’t stop with its promotion of Mulvaney. In June, Nike <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nike-marks-pride-month-with-doc-who-does-kids-gender-surgeries-leaked-email-shows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated</a> Pride Month by hosting a panel discussion with a surgeon who said he performed “gender affirming mastectomies” on minors, according to a leaked email obtained by The Daily Wire.
Apple
Similar to Hershey’s, Apple had its own <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2023/03/08/here-are-5-brands-celebrating-men-in-costumes-this-womens-history-month/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebration</a> of International Women’s Day that featured a biological man. When Apple users visited the app store on International Women’s Day earlier this year, they were met with a banner showing plus-size “fat positivity” activist Naomi Hearts. Users who clicked on the banner were redirected to an article celebrating Heart and encouraging life-altering gender procedures. 
The list of major companies that seek to take advantage of Black Friday shoppers’ open wallets after a year of pushing leftism could go on. While many of the largest companies will likely rake in billions more from American consumers this holiday season even as they continue to push radical theories that the majority of Americans don’t agree with, Black Friday shoppers have another option this year as they search for gifts and holiday treats. 
The Daily Wire is making its presence felt on the market this Black Friday as an alternative to these leftist companies. Shoppers can find a slew of products from The Daily Wire, including deals on Jeremy’s Razors and the Daily Wire Shop to membership deals on The Daily Wire’s new kids entertainment company Bentkey.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE</a>

Black Friday LGBTQ

How Shoppers’ Favorite Black Friday Brands Are Pushing The Left’s Radical Agenda

Apple

Dylan Mulvaney

Nike

Target

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/target" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Target</a> has appeared to double down on its acceptance of radical gender theory despite a second straight negative sales report following backlash to its Pride-themed products earlier this year.
Target reportedly selected a man named Erik Thompson as its Senior LGBTQIA+ Segmentation Strategist and Pride Lead, according to a post he shared on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CznNQjcM0pD/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> that was <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1724588769356161166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724588769356161166%7Ctwgr%5E121df7209263f33166c11cf427b86f3f47e7612a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.outkick.com%2Ftarget-hires-pride-strategist-who-vows-to-make-trouble-debuts-rainbow-nutcrackers-for-christmas%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flagged</a> by popular X account Libs of TikTok. Thompson, who goes by “gaycruella” on the social media platform, shared with followers that he was “honored” to accept the role.
“Time to whip out the Glitter &amp; Hellfire flamethrowers and rip that old world to shreds darlings,” the self-described Target corporate employee shared. “Let’s flip that script and rewrite that narrative. This time for ~ALL Guests, ALL Humans &amp; ALL Hearts.”
A post featuring Thompson’s announcement was shared on X, which prompted many to react to the news on the original post. One commenter asked, “lol you gonna make Targets sales tank too?” to which Thompson responded, “Yes. Yes I will make sales tank,” with heart and kissing emojis.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Remember when <a href="https://twitter.com/Target?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Target</a> sold tucking swimwear for kids and their sales dropped, stock plunged, and they were sued by shareholders?
Apparently they didn’t learn their lesson cuz they just hired an LGBTQ activist to lead their “LGBTQIA+ multicultural merchandising strategy and pride… <a href="https://t.co/wDZW7hshKi">pic.twitter.com/wDZW7hshKi</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1724588769356161166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Thompson’s <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-thompson-ab9a1046/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn profile</a> shows him as working for Target since June of 2014. During his tenure, he served the company as a business analyst and buyer in years past. He was also an executive intern at Target in 2013. Thompson listed his new role as becoming active in November 2023.
His LinkedIn bio says, “On a mission to lead in the effort of working to flip the script and rewrite the narrative of CPG retail industries to better serve all consumer segments and thoughtfully &amp; authentically cater to *ALL guests, ALL humans, &amp; ALL hearts* who enter our stores and across the nation.”
Target did not respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.
In Target’s third quarter — a three-month period that ended October 28 — the company’s sales tumbled 4.9% following a 5.4% <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-sales-sink-after-pride-backlash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decline</a> in the second quarter, which was Target&#8217;s first quarterly sales drop in six years, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/15/investing/target-stock-earnings/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Both of the most recent bleak earnings reports came after Target faced backlash over its Pride Month products geared toward children.
Target Chief Executive Brian Cornell said the sales trends “have clearly been tougher than we expected this year, and we are firmly focused on getting back to growth,” while discussing the third quarter earnings report on a call with reporters, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/earnings/target-tgt-q3-earnings-report-2023-42e94186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
Among Target’s Pride-themed products featured on store shelves over the summer were a children’s swimsuit with a tag reading “thoughtfully fit on multiple body types and gender expressions” and LGBTQ-themed books such as “The Pronoun Book” and “Bye Bye Binary.” The retail giant also featured an adult “Pride” collection, which included “tuck-friendly” swimsuits for men who identify as women to tuck their genitals, a t-shirt with the words “Queer Queer Queer Queer,” and a hoodie reading “Not A Phase.”
Target came under fire again this week for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-mocked-for-selling-disabled-black-santa-ornament-pride-nutcrackers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selling</a> Pride-themed nutcrackers and disabled Santa ornaments. The account End Wokeness shared images of an ornament of a black Santa Claus in a wheelchair displayed on a Target shelf. The account also highlighted a Pride nutcracker figurine wearing a Pride-striped hat and holding a Progress Pride flag. The product description encourages buyers to “show your love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community” by displaying this decoration. Both items are available for sale on Target’s website as of Wednesday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Target outdid itself this year for Christmas <a href="https://t.co/F0YpLmOrkt">pic.twitter.com/F0YpLmOrkt</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1724590949899092243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Target isn’t the only company to report drops in sales this year following backlash to marketing campaigns that pushed radical gender theory. Earlier this month, Anheuser-Busch <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anheuser-busch-revenue-declines-in-third-quarter-as-bud-light-sales-continue-to-fall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that its revenue in the U.S. was down 13.5% for the third quarter, continuing a trend in declining sales after Bud Light partnered earlier this year with transgender-identifying influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
As Black Friday approaches, Target hopes to turn its fledgling year around on the backs of holiday shoppers who will be looking everywhere for the best deals, but whether shoppers are willing to return to the retail giant after the Pride Month backlash earlier this year is yet to be seen.
The Daily Wire is also making its presence felt on the market this Black Friday as an alternative to the companies pushing leftist ideologies on consumers. Shoppers can find a slew of products from The Daily Wire, including deals on Jeremy&#8217;s Razors and the Daily Wire Shop to membership deals on The Daily Wire&#8217;s new kids entertainment company Bentkey.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE</a>
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.

Screen Shot: Erik Thompson/LinkedIn

Target Promotes ‘GayCruella’ To ‘LGBTQIA+ Segmentation Strategist’ Amid Abysmal Sales From Pride Backlash

Target Promotes 'GayCruella' To 'LGBTQIA+ Segmentation Strategist' Amid Abysmal Sales From Pride Backlash

boycotts

Pride Month

The opening of the holiday shopping season was the most robust on record, even in the face of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflationary</a> pressures, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/supply-chain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supply chain</a> bottlenecks, and other <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic</a> headwinds.
A record 196.7 million Americans shopped online and in person during the five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to data released by the National Retail Federation, shattering the trade association’s initial projection of 166.3 million shoppers during the first weekend of the holiday season.
“The Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend is a tradition treasured by many American families,” National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay remarked in a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/record-1967-million-consumers-shop-over-thanksgiving-holiday-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “As inflationary pressures persist, consumers have responded by stretching their dollars in any way possible. Retailers have responded accordingly, offering shoppers a season of buying convenience, matching sales and promotions across online and in-store channels to accommodate their customers at each interaction.”
The typical consumer spent $325.44 on holiday-related purchases throughout the weekend, most of which was spent on gifts, exceeding the $301.27 average recorded last year. Americans were most likely to shop online or visit a department store.
Shay said during a press call attended by The Daily Wire that many households have generally been “a bit more cautious” with their expenditures, although they continue to spend on necessities. Some families are “taking on additional debt” and “tapping into savings” to meet monthly expenses and cover additional spending during the holiday season. He noted that overall retail sales have increased every month since May 2020, implying that the sector has “incredible resilience” despite multiple economic constraints.
A similar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-breaks-revenue-record-as-consumers-endure-high-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Adobe Analytics found that households are projected to spend $210 billion this season, exceeding the $205 billion spent in 2021 and the $188 billion spent in 2020. Companies earned $9.1 billion this year on Black Friday alone.
Shay also expressed concern at the beginning of the call over a pending rail strike that could cripple supply chain operations ahead of the holidays. “Any slowdown, stoppage, or delay in rail transit of goods and people in this country would be devastating for our economy and for American households,” Shay continued. “We certainly encourage Congress… to move quickly to remove this uncertainty so we can all move on without this hanging over our heads as we get into the last few weeks of the year.”
Hundreds of business associations recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/business-groups-demand-congress-step-in-to-avoid-certain-economic-destruction-from-rail-strike-ahead-of-holiday-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> leaders of both major parties to intervene ahead of the holidays. President Joe Biden likewise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-calls-for-congressional-intervention-to-avoid-potentially-crippling-rail-strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demanded</a> that Congress immediately move to “avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown” in a Monday statement. “At this critical moment for our economy, in the holiday season, we cannot let our strongly held conviction for better outcomes for workers deny workers the benefits of the bargain they reached, and hurl this nation into a devastating rail freight shutdown,” he remarked.
SMART Transportation Division, a union representing rail conductors, announced last week that members <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rail-strike-threat-returns-as-union-group-rejects-latest-offer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> the tentative agreement, which would produce the largest wage hike for the industry in four decades. Freight rail accounts for 40% of long-distance shipping volume, according to a <a href="https://rilastagemedia.blob.core.windows.net/rila-web/rila.web/media/media/pdfs/supply%20chain/rila-rail-labor-dispute.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Retail Industry Leaders Association, including products such as chemicals used to treat wastewater and ethanol used as a component in gasoline.

Black Friday in Costa Mesa, CA

Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Shopping Shatters Expectations Despite Economic Headwinds

Holiday Shopping Spend Exceeds Forecasts During Thanksgiving Weekend

Inflation

Railroads

Supply Chain

Thanksgiving

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/black-friday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Friday</a> revenues topped previous records despite elevated <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a> and other <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic</a> tensions, according to <a href="https://business.adobe.com/resources/holiday-shopping-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from Adobe Analytics.
Businesses earned $9.1 billion in revenues on Black Friday, according to the computer software company’s business product. Americans are slated to spend $210 billion this season, exceeding the $205 billion spent in 2021 and the $188 billion spent in 2020. Among the most popular Black Friday products were Apple Macbook computers and the Xbox Series X console, while shoppers could expect the best average discounts for computers, appliances, and televisions.
Purchasing activity during the holiday shopping season has continued to expand every year since the lockdown-induced recession, although growth rates are expected to fall from 32% in 2020 and 8.6% in 2021 to 2.5% this year.
Another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rise-in-holiday-spending-to-be-outpaced-by-inflation-forecast-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimate</a> from the National Retail Foundation concluded that overall holiday retail sales in the United States are expected to grow between 6% and 8% since last year to possibly surpass $960 billion. “While consumers are feeling the pressure of inflation and higher prices, and while there is continued stratification with consumer spending and behavior among households at different income levels, consumers remain resilient and continue to engage in commerce,” National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay said in a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-predicts-healthy-holiday-sales-consumers-navigate-economic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “In the face of these challenges, many households will supplement spending with savings and credit to provide a cushion and result in a positive holiday season.”
Although the higher revenues could surpass the 4.9% annual increase typically seen over the past decade, the expansion will be largely eclipsed by inflation, which increased year-over-year at a 7.7% rate as of last month, according to a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rising price levels also impacted families preparing Thanksgiving meals, which have risen 20% in cost since last year, according to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amber-waves-of-pain-thanksgiving-dinners-will-be-20-more-expensive-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the American Farm Bureau Association.
Winners from the critical Black Friday shopping push include Lululemon, Victoria’s Secret, and American Eagle, according to an <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-friday-retail-winners-and-losers-175200841.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investor note</a> shared by Morgan Stanley, while losing brands include Hollister and Banana Republic. Successful firms garnered the attention of shoppers by maintaining assortments that resonated with consumers.
Real average hourly earnings had declined 2.8% year-over-year as of last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, implying that many Americans are utilizing savings and credit schemes, such as buy-now-pay-later solutions, during the present holiday season. Boston Consulting Group indeed said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-black-friday-is-different-this-year-because-of-record-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> that as many as 47% of customers are “already spending their savings on day-to-day expenses” and 20% “expect their disposable income to deteriorate in the next six months.”
Approximately 39% of respondents to a survey published by the consulting firm will “buy more at discounters or value retailers,” while 51% plan to “cut back on nonessential purchases” and 48% may “go out less to save money.” The majority of respondents expressed an intent to participate in Black Friday and said they would more strongly emphasize bargain hunting.
The United States was the only developed country evaluated by Boston Consulting Group to increase spending despite economic woes. German and French shoppers were forecasted to spend 15% less, while their counterparts in the United Kingdom will spend 18% less as soaring <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-winter-will-be-bad-for-energy-prices-now-the-real-concern-is-next-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">energy prices</a> induced by low renewable power output and the Russian invasion of Ukraine scourge the continent’s economy.

Shoppers fill Long Island mall on Black Friday

Black Friday Breaks Revenue Record As Consumers Endure High Inflation

Black Friday Sees Increase In Spending From Last Year

Business

Consumers are entering the biggest shopping day of the year wary of higher <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/price-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">price levels</a> and the future of the global <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a>.
Inflation is casting an ominous shadow on <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/black-friday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Friday</a>, on which retailers offer highly discounted prices to usher in the beginning of the holiday shopping season. According to an <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/black-friday-2022-impacting-brands-retailers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from Boston Consulting Group, the vast majority of consumers in the United States, Europe, and Australia foresee elevated inflation remaining for a “long time,” predict that the economy will “get even worse” over the course of the next year, and are concerned about rising prices for “essentials” such as food and energy.
“Consumption habits are changing as a result, with shoppers cutting back on nonessential purchases, going out less to save money, and turning to lower-quality items,” the analysis said. “Bargain hunting has become a more continuous activity, as consumers have become more accustomed to checking price tags and looking for discounts over the past few months.”
Approximately 39% of respondents to a Boston Consulting Group survey will “buy more at discounters or value retailers,” while 51% will “cut back on nonessential purchases” and 48% will “go out less to save money.” The majority of respondents nevertheless intend to participate in Black Friday and will more strongly emphasize bargain hunting.
Citizens in every nation examined by Boston Consulting Group plan to reduce their spending on Black Friday, with the exception of the United States, where residents are expected to spend 6% more than last year. German and French shoppers will spend 15% less, while their counterparts in Australia and the United Kingdom will spend 18% less.
Holiday retail sales in the United States are expected to grow between 6% and 8% since last year to possibly surpass $960 billion, according to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rise-in-holiday-spending-to-be-outpaced-by-inflation-forecast-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the National Retail Federation. Although the growth appears to surpass the average 4.9% annual increase witnessed over the past decade, the expansion will be mostly eclipsed by inflation, which rose year-over-year at a 7.7% rate as of last month, according to a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“While consumers are feeling the pressure of inflation and higher prices, and while there is continued stratification with consumer spending and behavior among households at different income levels, consumers remain resilient and continue to engage in commerce,” National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay said in a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-predicts-healthy-holiday-sales-consumers-navigate-economic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “In the face of these challenges, many households will supplement spending with savings and credit to provide a cushion and result in a positive holiday season.”
Boston Consulting Group indeed found that as many as 47% of customers are “already spending their savings on day-to-day expenses” and 20% “expect their disposable income to deteriorate in the next six months.”
Amazon and FedEx recently revealed efforts to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-critical-companies-will-lay-off-furlough-employees-during-holiday-shopping-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismiss workers</a> ahead of the holiday season, which is typically a busy time for companies involved in the sale and transportation of consumer goods. The former company introduced layoffs in human resources, retail, and devices divisions. Firms in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-tech-company-announces-massive-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">technology sector</a> and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/entertainment-giants-and-media-companies-announce-massive-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entertainment industry</a> have likewise announced significant layoffs in an attempt to minimize costs.
Despite a rise in economic output during the third quarter, the United States previously met the rule-of-thumb definition of a recession, two consecutive quarters of negative growth, as output contracted at a 1.6% annualized rate in the first quarter and a 0.6% pace in the second quarter.

Shoppers Flock To Stores For Black Friday Deals

How Black Friday Is Different This Year Because Of Record Inflation

Recession

Amazon experienced a “record-breaking” Thanksgiving weekend as other retailers struggled.
According to a <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/customers-drove-record-breaking-black-friday-through-cyber-monday-sales-on-amazon">blog post</a> from the company, the period between Black Friday and Cyber Monday saw high degrees of consumer activity in categories such as toys, apparel, and electronics:
<blockquote>Customers discover savings on Amazon during the holiday season—and every day. According to a recent study from independent analyst firm Profitero, Amazon had the lowest prices by an average of 14% compared to all major retailers across every category coming into the holidays.
Amazon is proud to make customers’ holiday celebrations easier by offering a wide selection of incredible deals and low prices with convenient delivery and pick-up options. Amazon also looks forward to delivering smiles through the rest of the holiday season and beyond. The holiday season — and every day of the year at Amazon — is made possible by our employees, delivery drivers, in-store staff, and the nearly two-million small and medium-sized businesses among our independent selling partners who continue to deliver a great shopping experience for our customers around the world.</blockquote>
Despite Amazon’s apparent success, other retailers lagged, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/30/amazon-touts-record-sales-amid-weak-start-to-holiday-shopping-season.html">CNBC</a>: 

<blockquote>U.S. shoppers spent $10.7 billion on Cyber Monday, according to data from Adobe Analytics, marking a 1.4% decline from year-ago levels. Black Friday online sales also fell slightly short of last year’s total, with retailers recording $8.9 billion in sales, Adobe said.
While shopping at physical stores rose substantially from last year, when the pandemic kept consumers glued to the couch, traffic was down 28% from 2019 levels, according to preliminary data from Sensormatic Solutions.</blockquote>
Citing another study, CNBC added that Amazon alone captured 17.7% of Black Friday dollars. More details about Amazon’s sales will be made public in the firm’s fourth-quarter earnings report, due for release early next year.
Despite its success in the retail space, Amazon has been accused of censoring conservative-leaning products. 
In September, the Heritage Foundation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amazon-temporarily-censored-advertisement-for-new-book-critical-of-black-lives-matter">announced</a> that Amazon pulled promotions for the book “BLM: The Making of a New Marxist Revolution” — a deep-dive by Heritage Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez into the Black Lives Matter movement.
Amazon told Heritage that the book “no longer complies with our current Creative Acceptance Policies,” because: “Your ad contains book/s or content that is not allowed. Content that revolves around controversial or highly debated social topics is not permitted. Please remove this content from your ad.”
After Heritage officials appealed, Amazon <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/09/16/amazon-reverses-ad-ban-for-book-investigating-blm-cites-inaccurately-enforced-policies/">reversed</a> its decision, claiming that it had not properly enforced its own policies.
Meanwhile, a book version of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ “1619 Project” reached the top of Amazon’s bestseller list before its release. The New York Times journalist’s arguments, however, have been widely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pulitzer-prize-awarded-to-creator-of-widely-derided-1619-project-from-the-new-york-times">denounced</a> by historians who argued that it lacks nuance and ignores necessary context regarding the United States’ struggle with slavery.
“I was disturbed by what seemed like a very unbalanced, one-sided account, which lacked context and perspective on the complexity of slavery, which was clearly, obviously, not an exclusively American institution, but existed throughout history,” Pulitzer-Prize winning author and Princeton University history professor James McPherson explained.

Baby2Baby 10-Year Gala Presented By Paul Mitchell – Arrivals

Amazon’s Black Friday Weekend Sales Soar As Other Retailers Struggle

Amazon

On Black Friday, more Americans shopped online as many retailers battled labor shortages and supply chain issues.
Overall, consumers purchased between $8.8 billion and $9.2 billion online, compared with $9.03 billion a year ago, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/black-friday-shopping-is-back-but-the-door-busters-arent-11637922601">The Wall Street Journal</a>. Meanwhile, the National Retail Foundation predicted that roughly 158.3 million people would shop over Thanksgiving weekend — 2 million higher than last year, but short of the 165.3 million people who shopped in 2019.
The Wall Street Journal added:
<blockquote>Many stores stayed closed this Thanksgiving, in a break with a pre-pandemic tradition of opening Thursday evening. Retailers have moved away from doorbusters, the deeply discounted items available for a limited time that drew hordes of shoppers to stores on Friday morning. Instead, they have been dangling Black Friday deals all month, both online and in stores. Some hosted streaming events on their websites on Friday as an alternative to visiting a store.</blockquote>
As <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/business/holiday-shopping-stores.html">The New York Times</a> explained, economic bottlenecks — such as labor shortages and the supply chain crisis — were experienced firsthand by consumers and retailers alike:
<blockquote>But hallmarks of a changed season remain. Many stores were closed on Thanksgiving and holiday hours at certain malls and chains will be shortened, in part because of a national labor shortage. And many people are bracing for a dearth of products like popular toys as “supply chain issues” becomes the refrain of 2021. There are also those customers who will stay away from stores, based on new habits adopted during the pandemic or ongoing concerns about the virus, and opt to shop online or using curbside pickups.</blockquote>
To prevent staff shortages, Target is attempting to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-gives-bonuses-goes-on-hiring-spree-to-prevent-worker-shortage-ahead-of-holidays">hire</a> 100,000 employees while offering $2 per hour bonuses to sales representatives who work during the weekends preceding Christmas. Likewise, the company is offering $2 per hour bonuses to supply chain workers. Walmart is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-bypasses-supply-chain-crisis-sees-revenues-rise">seeking</a> 150,000 additional workers as well.
Due to virus fears and the accelerated shift toward online shopping, many consumers avoided visiting stores — a scenario that worried many retailers. The New York Times continued:
<blockquote>People are much more likely to make purchases when they’re at a store than while browsing the store’s website, said Meredith Darnall, senior vice president in the retail division of Brookfield Properties, which oversees more than 130 malls. “The ability to touch and see and talk to somebody about the product is real. They also have add-on sales — you come in for the T-shirt, you’re likely to buy the denim.” Adding to the appeal of in-store shopping for retailers, she said, is the fact that return rates are much higher for e-commerce purchases, especially in apparel and shoes.</blockquote>
Beyond retail, the stock market <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-the-black-friday-carnage-may-mean-for-the-stock-markets-trade-monday-analysts-say-11638021516">witnessed</a> its worst Black Friday since 1931 amid concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant, which the World Health Organization declared a “variant of concern.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 2.53%, while the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell by 2.27% and 2.23%, respectively.

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Black Friday Sees More Online Shopping As Retailers Battle Labor Shortages, Supply Chain Disruptions

A Home Depot in Lakewood, California, was the latest business to be victimized by a rash of “flash mob” smash-and-grab robberies currently going on throughout the state.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told <a href="https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/11/27/group-of-men-steal-tools-from-lakewood-home-depot/">CBS 2 LA</a> that employees reported a group of between 8 and 20 people, between the ages of 15 and 20 years old, entering the Home Depot in the Lakewood Center Mall at around 7:45 p.m. on Friday. The suspects reportedly arrived in 10 cars, put on ski masks, and stole sledgehammers, hand hammers, and crowbars. The group then fled the scene in the cars. One car was described as a red Mercedes with severe damage to the front.
CBS 2 later reported that four suspects had been arrested in possible connection with the robbery. Beverly Hills Police received a call about several vehicles driving with no license plates around 9 p.m. Friday, according to the outlet. Officers responded, pulling over one of the vehicles and arresting the suspects.
“We’re currently working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to see if there is a link to the Lakewood Home Depot incident or any other crimes that have been committed,” Beverly Hills Police Sergeant Jeff Newman told CBS 2.
The robbery was one of several attacks that took place around the country on Black Friday. A mall in North Carolina was evacuated after three people were shot at around 3:23 p.m. Friday afternoon, The Daily Wire reported. Among the reported victims was a 10-year-old boy with non-life-threatening injuries, and two other victims in unknown condition. Three others were injured during the evacuation, but those injuries were considered non-life-threatening as well, police said. One suspect was taken into custody, while two more are still at large.
A group of about 20-30 people also attacked a Best Buy store in Minneapolis around 8 p.m. Friday night, stealing an unknown amount of merchandise, then fleeing before the police could arrive. No arrests have been made, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robbers-swarm-best-buy-minnesota-black-friday-theft/">CBS News</a>. Another Best Buy in nearby Maplewood was also attacked.
The state of California has been reeling from the rash of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/experts-mocked-after-saying-california-crime-spree-isnt-looting-but-rather-organized-robbery">organized retail crime</a>” in recent weeks, with groups of people breaking into stores, smashing merchandise displays, and grabbing as much merchandise as they can before fleeing the scene. A group of thieves stole more than <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thieves-hit-california-apple-store-make-off-with-20000-worth-of-loot-in-brazen-daytime-robbery">$20,000</a> from an Apple store in Santa Rosa, about 50 miles from San Francisco. Another mob attacked a Nordstrom luxury outlet in the Los Angeles area, assaulting a security guard with an unknown chemical and making off with at least seven luxury handbags. Last weekend, mobs robbed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mobs-rob-three-san-francisco-area-stores-in-three-days">three different stores</a> in the San Francisco Bay Area in a span of three days.
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-philly-pd-commissioner-california-looting-spree-wont-be-stopped-will-spread-across-the-country">Charles Ramsey</a> told CNN Thursday that he believed the thefts would eventually spread across the country. “This is something now that I really unfortunately think is going to spread,” Ramsey said, as reported by The Daily Wire. “Right now it’s in California, but it will spread, there’s no question about it.”

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