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McDonald's, the world's biggest fast-food chain, is in the public eye as a nationwide boycott led by activist group The People's Union USA begins today in the United States. The week-long boycott from June 24 to June 30 is part of a larger campaign calling for corporate responsibility, equitable wages, transparent taxation, and a renewed commitment to strong diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. Despite the protest gaining traction on social media, no McDonald’s stores have shut down in response to the campaign, and business operations remain unaffected for now.

McDonald's Being Boycotted: Why?

The boycott is a result of an increasing list of allegations, including:

• Price Hike: Customers have complained of exorbitant price increases, with reported average item prices having gone up more than 40 per cent since 2019.
• Tax evasion accusations: Activists accuse the company of not paying its rightful amount in taxes.
• Unfair labor practices: The organisation complained of low wages and inhuman working conditions for workers.
• DEI rollbacks: In January 2025, McDonald's revised its diversity programs, halting third-party assessments and renaming its "Diversity Team" as the "Global Inclusion Team."

Based on NewFood Magazine, the moves are viewed as a business pullback from substantive inclusion efforts, falling in line with a wider trend across US businesses in the aftermath of political and legal backlash.

Who Is Behind the McDonald's Boycott?

The boycott is spearheaded by John Schwarz, founder of The People's Union USA, a ground movement that promotes economic resistance against big businesses. The organisation has previously boycotted Amazon, Walmart, and Target with varying levels of success."This is about more than burgers and fries. This is about power," Schwarz stated on Instagram. "When we come together and strike corporations where it hurts, they pay attention," he added. The union is calling Americans to redirect their funds to small businesses during the boycott week and steer clear of large corporate chains altogether.

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Will McDonald's Shut Down?

No, McDonald's restaurants are still open. The firm has neither made any official statement regarding the protest nor given any notice of any closures or service cuts. However, increased media coverage happens at a time when the chain is already posting two successive quarters of falling sales, especially for low- and middle-income consumers.

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Consumer boycotts tend to have difficulty generating short-term financial effects, particularly against corporate giants such as McDonald's. An earlier boycott of Amazon this year proved similarly negligible to the company's earnings. A 40-day boycott of Target, organized by pastor Rev. Jamal Bryant, did prove effective in having a reported decline in sales, demonstrating that well-organized efforts can prove measurable under the right conditions.

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