Post and Courier
February 25, 2025
Why are SC residents planning to boycott Walmart, Amazon and more big businesses Feb. 28?
By Teri Errico Griffis tegriffis@postandcourier.com
People are using the power of their purses to rally against inflation, stagnant wages and rich corporations getting richer while the average American struggles to afford basics like food and housing.
An economic protest dubbed the “Feb. 28 Economic Blackout” has gained steam over the last few weeks on social media, rallying consumers to band together and halt discretionary spending for one day — no gas, no grocery stores and no fast-food service at corporations like Walmart, Amazon or McDonald’s.
If one must shop, they’re encouraged to shop small only.
Instagram posts by the grassroots group The People’s Union USA, whose founder John Schwartz goes by the handle “TheOneCalledJai,” has been persistently circulating the message for people to flex their collective power to enact change.
“For decades, they have told us that we are powerless, that we have no control, and that this system is too big, too strong, too unshakable,” Schwartz said in a video.
The movement’s founder, born in Flushing, N.Y. in 1968, said on his website he is neither a politician nor a corporate-backed activist, rather a man who’s seen struggle and “decided to do something about it.”
Now he’s looking for millions of Americans to join him for the one-day blitz as an opportunity to unite as consumers.
Inflation is widespread, from egg prices up 53 percent year-over-year to U.S. average home prices rising 33 percent to $510,300 between January 2020 and December 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
“We are going to remind them who has the power. For one day, we turn it off for one day. We shut it down for one day,” Schwartz said in a video post. “We remind them that this country does not belong to the elite, it belongs to the people and this will work.”
Schwartz did not respond to a request for comment. A statement on his website said the movement is not a protest against one person.
“It is about the system as a whole,” he wrote. “Both political parties, both past and current leaders, and billionaires have manipulated the economy and profited off the working class. We will hold them all accountable. Our focus is systemic change, not political drama.”
Taking the protests local
Jordan Amaker, director of advocacy and communications for Lowcountry Local First, said consumers have long held the power to shape communities and encourages people to spend their money in ways that support what they want their community to look like every day — not just during the blackout.
“We all have power, and this is one important way to wield it,” she said. “We appreciate The People’s Union’s efforts to encourage those who wish to participate to choose local-independent businesses for their needs that day and hope the Lowcountry’s citizens will take part in that effort.”
Frank Knapp, president and CEO of S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce, a 5000-plus member statewide advocacy group, said while he hopes a national boycott of major retailers will encourage more people to shop locally, smaller retailers haven’t historically seen long-term benefits from such boycotts.
“It would have to be such a large movement to move the needle,” Knapp said. “But you never know, the country is a very big place.”
According to Columbia’s Small Business Administration, nearly 96.9 percent of all businesses in South Carolina are small businesses.
Even Schwartz admits the one-day blitz won’t have a huge impact. Not at first.
“And we know that. We’ve said that,” he said in an Instagram video. “340 million people live in America. A lot of people are going to shop on February 28, but if millions of us don’t it still shows a great stand of resistance.”
The secondary boycotts and beyond, he anticipates, will cause the financial strain.
Schwartz has broadcasted plans for further events this year until “specific companies” get the message. He posted an “Economic Blackout Tour” with a schedule for the next several months including an Amazon boycott March 7-14, Nestle March 21-28, Walmart April 7-14, Target June 3-9, McDonald’s June 24-30 and several more in between.
Mixed responses on social media
When The Post and Courier polled South Carolina residents, asking if they would participate in the Feb. 28 Economic Blackout, the responses ranged.
Rosemary Burke of Socastee plans to avoid major stores that day. “If we spend anything, it will be with local ‘mom and pops,'” she said.
Several similarly minded consumers posted on Facebook with resounding “Absolutely!” and “Love this!” comments.
“Yes. We are participating,” Brigid Kennedy wrote on Facebook. “Great thing about being American is that I have the RIGHT to do so.”
Along with “#resistance,” Cheryl Huber Meldrum of Pendleton commented, “You betcha! The power of the purse and pocket will be felt nationwide.”
In contrast, Florence resident Yvonne Whaley Matthews responded, “Nope! I’m going to do the bulk of my monthly shopping that day, as a matter of fact!”
Several people like Traci Kelley Johnson said they still plan to hit up Harris Teeter Feb. 28 for the extra fuel points on Fridays, while dozens of others said they’d in fact stock up their Amazon carts or do their monthly bulk shopping that day.
Greenville resident Wilton Lee Fleck said it would take more than a day of shopping restraint to make an impact.
“Y’all wanna boycott go for it but make sure you clear out all the companies products out of your house first,” he posted on Facebook. “Food and clothes and whatever you purchased from them. If you going to say that you are going to boycott get rid of all products, do not be a hypocrite.”