Al Sharpton organized a “buy-cott” at a Costco store in Harlem, New York, to show support for the company’s continued commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
While the vast majority of retail companies have backed away from their corrosive DEI initiatives, no longer held hostage to the left as conservatives scored striking victories in the November elections, Costco has remained stubbornly dug in.
Costco’s leadership has defended its DEI policies as integral to its business model and ethics, insisting that diversity enhances employee satisfaction, creativity, and the shopping experience. Why that is the case is, of course, never explained.
The company’s stance has placed Costco at the center of a cultural and political debate, with some conservative figures advocating for boycotts. Sharpton, though, countered that by organizing a supportive “buycott.”
But it didn’t go exactly as planned.
Leading over 100 members of National Action Network to the Costco in East Harlem yesterday for a buy-in to show our support for their strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
At a time when DEI is under attack from President Trump and others in the private… pic.twitter.com/CGxKVNPHyc
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) January 26, 2025
Al Sharpton Supporting Costco
Al Sharpton, along with approximately 100 members of his National Action Network, walked through a Harlem store branch, purchasing items and handing out $25 gift vouchers to participants to stimulate spending at Costco.
Social media users were less than amused seeing the noted tax cheat handing out free money to customers in an attempt to generate fake support for the store.
Several commentators called Sharpton’s involvement potentially detrimental to Costco’s reputation, dubbing it the “kiss of death.”
Others suggested Al Sharpton’s alignment with Costco would lead to even more emphatic boycotts from people who see DEI for what it is. One company experienced a similar conservative backlash recently, you may recall.
“I wonder how much they love Al Sharpton now that they’re getting Bud-Lighted,” one X user wrote. “I’m cancelling my memberships auto renewal this week and won’t be shopping there again.”
Bud Light is still trying to recover from their foray into placating the liberals.
“If Al Sharpton shows up, you’re most definitely on the wrong side of history,” another wrote.
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Wrong Side Of History
That last comment is searingly true. Al Sharpton, like this stance with Costco, is often on the wrong side of history. Some of it intentionally to stir up racial strife in America.
His entire career began when he raised his profile by completely fabricating a race crime, backing Tawana Brawley in falsely accusing four white men, including a state trooper and Steven Pagones, an Assistant District Attorney in Dutchess County, New York, of rape.
To be clear, there is no gray area here – Sharpton pushed the entire story, which was made up, destroying the lives of those accused.
Pagones successfully sued the fake reverend for defamation.
Also included in Sharpton’s rap sheet:
Inciting a three-day riot in Crown Heights that resulted in the death of an innocent Hasidic Jewish student visiting from Australia.
Started a protest at Freddie’s Fashion Mart that led one protester to attack the store, shoot several customers, and start a fire that killed seven employees.
Oh, and not to mention, Sharpton was given a $500k donation from Kamala Harris’s campaign in exchange for a cushy interview promoting her candidacy for president, something the folks over at MSNBC have never addressed. Something that is a clear, actionable scandal for the network.