McDonald's
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Consumers worldwide are uniting this week in a massive boycott of McDonald's, demanding an end to price gouging, real equity, and corporate accountability.

Led by The People's Union USA, the boycott is part of a series of coordinated actions targeting major corporations, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Nestlé.

The McDonald's boycott begins today, 24 July, and will continue until 30 July.

In an Instagram statement, The People's Union USA said: 'This is about more than burgers and fries. This is about power. When we unite and hit corporations in their wallets, they listen.'

Who Is Expected to Join the Movement?

The People's Union USA, which describes itself as 'a grassroots movement focused on economic resistance, corporate accountability, and real justice for the working class', is leading the boycott.

The organisation claims no political affiliations and advocates equality for all, regardless of beliefs, sexuality, or background.

In recent months, it has launched similar boycotts and blackouts against major US companies, aiming to unite everyday Americans against corporate greed and corruption.

John Schwarz, leader of The People's Union USA, explained on Instagram why they prioritise economic resistance over in-person protests.

'Today, with the reach of the internet and our ability to mobilise digitally, economic resistance hits harder and protects us in the process,' he wrote.

Schwarz noted that in-person protests are increasingly labelled as 'hostile gatherings', with participants at risk of being 'targeted and dragged off the streets simply for showing up'.

'I'm not anti-protest. I'm pro-safety,' he clarified. 'And I know that if we want to truly shake the system, we hit them where it hurts... their wallets.'

Why Is McDonald's Being Boycotted?

Schwarz listed five reasons for why the union is initiating the McDonald's boycott:

  1. They pay less in taxes than the people serving their food.
  2. They're one of the worst offenders of price gouging.
  3. They fight workers' rights and unionization efforts.
  4. They exploit global supply chains and environmental loopholes.
  5. They perform DEI for the cameras but fund the opposite.

McDonald's was one of several major US companies to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives after the Trump administration returned to office in early 2025.

In January, McDonald's announced it would retire multiple diversity practices, including setting aspirational representation goals and the Supply Chain's Mutual Commitment to DEI pledge. The company also paused external surveys.

It also rebranded its diversity department as the Global Inclusion Team, claiming the new title 'more fittingly reflects McDonald's values and aligns with the team's work'.

Other companies that modified their DEI policies following Trump's return include Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson.

What Does McDonald's Say About the Boycott?

McDonald's maintains that it is committed to inclusion despite pulling back from previous DEI efforts.

'Our business model relies on franchisees supporting their communities,' the company wrote in an internal email to employees and suppliers worldwide.

'This important work will continue, and McDonald's leaders will remain accountable for fostering an inclusive environment within their teams.'

The company has denied allegations of price gouging, saying that individual franchisees—who operate over 95% of US locations—set menu prices based on operational costs.

'Our franchisees work hard to minimise the impact of price increases on our fans,' said Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald's USA, in an open letter.