Nationwide McDonald's Boycott Planned for June 24: What To Know
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McDonald's is set to join the growing list of companies subject to boycotts this year, led by a group advocating for "economic resistance" as a means toward corporate accountability and "real justice for the working class."
As part of its ongoing "Economic Blackout Tour," The People's Union USA, the movement behind boycotts of Target and Walmart, is urging Americans to refrain from shopping at the restaurant chain between June 24 and 30.
Newsweek has reached out to McDonald's and The People's Union USA's founder, John Schwarz, via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The first half of 2025 has been marked by boycotts of several household-name companies, sparked by certain corporations rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as wider pushback against practices such as tax avoidance and underpaying workers.
Since late 2023, McDonald's has also been battling a boycott led by the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement for alleged complicity with the actions of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip.
A sign towers over a McDonald's restaurant on May 13, 2025, in Chicago.
A sign towers over a McDonald's restaurant on May 13, 2025, in Chicago.What To Know
The boycotts are being led by The People's Union USA, described on its website as "a grassroots movement focused on economic resistance, corporate accountability, and real justice for the working class."
Since February, the group has orchestrated boycotts of Amazon, Walmart and Target, as well as periodic "economic blackouts," during which it says Americans should "avoid shopping, streaming, online orders, fast food, and everything in between," and rely exclusively on small, local businesses.
The McDonald's boycott has received less attention than the campaigns against Walmart, Amazon and Target, the latter of which Schwarz said should be subject to a "permanent boycott" in order to feel "the full power of the people."
Earlier this year, The People's Union USA published a list of core grievances with each targeted company to its website, largely centered around tax avoidance, conditions of workers and general monopolistic practices. McDonald's was included in the list for "tax avoidance and known lobbying against wage increases," issues that have in recent years resulted in significant criticism of the company, as well as legal consequences.
What People Are Saying
John Schwarz, founder of The People's Union USA, in a video posted to Instagram in late May: "Economic resistance is working. Target, Walmart and Amazon are all feeling it, talking about it. They are talking about the boycotts. They are talking about The People's Union USA. My friends, we are fighting for these corporations to finally pay their fair share of federal income taxes to alleviate that from the American worker. We are also fighting for these companies to hold manufacturers and themselves to a reasonable profit margin cap and equality across the board."
Genna Gent, vice president of government relations for McDonald's, in a 2019 letter to the National Restaurant Association and obtained by Politico: "Going forward, McDonald's Corporation will not use our resources, including lobbyists or staff, to oppose minimum wage increases at the federal, state or local levels. Nor will we participate in the association advocacy efforts designed expressly to defeat wage increases."
What Happens Next
The People's Union USA plans to organize an Independence Day boycott, along with a month-long boycott of Starbucks, Amazon and Home Depot in July. Schwarz has also announced that McDonald's, Walmart and Lowe's will be subject of a boycott in August.
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