John,

Derek Chauvin is guilty of the murder of George Floyd. And while that’s a small step towards accountability, Black and brown people are dying at the hands of police every. single. day.

The problem isn’t “a few bad apples.” The problem is the racist institution of policing that harasses, assaults, and targets Black and brown communities.

And as long as corporations like Target keep on recklessly funneling millions of dollars to police, they will remain complicit in the decimation of Black and brown communities.

Add your name to demand that Target stop supporting secretive and dangerous police foundations.

In Solidarity,

Toni, Lacey, and the team at SumOfUS

More information:

Target’s history of working with police is not a good look right now, Vox, June, 5, 2020

Corporate Backers of the Blue: How Corporations Bankroll U.S. Police Foundations, Little Sis, June 08, 2020

Here's my original email:

John,

Coca-Cola, Target, and Starbucks are thwarting efforts to end police brutality and racism.

They’re all supporting shady police foundations that secretly buy hi-tech surveillance equipment and military-grade weapons used by police to brutalize Black and brown neighborhoods and squash protests.

We met with corporate executives last week to demand that they cut all ties with police foundations. They told us that they will continue supporting the police until the customers, employees, and communities they serve tell them to stop. You have the power to put an end to this.

Add your name to the petition before we deliver it next week to show there is a groundswell of people demanding that corporations stop supporting police foundations.

Target gave $200,000 to the LA police foundation for a hi-tech surveillance system that has been used to terrorize Black and brown communities. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has given over $350,000 to the Atlanta police foundation, and Starbucks hosts “coffee with a cop” in stores across the country.

Whether giving money to police foundations for weapons, surveillance, or programs to cover up police brutality, these corporations are complicit in the systematic tracking, terrorizing, and killing of Black and brown people by police.

Coca-Cola, Target, and Starbucks all put out statements last summer promising they would do their part to promote racial justice. But in order to keep their promises, they must shift their funds away from police foundations, and instead give that money to groups that actually help marginalized communities.

Studies show that the best way to reduce crime and poverty is to invest in resources like education, healthcare, community centers, and workforce development. 

Giving more funding to increasingly militarized and brutal police departments does not make communities safer.

Sign here to demand that Target, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks spend their money on groups helping communities instead of groups terrorizing communities.

Just a few months ago, Wells Fargo announced it would review donations to police foundations. It is up to us to make sure Target, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks do the same.

They’ve told us that if enough of us speak out now, they will reconsider supporting police foundations.

Together we can show corporations that press releases supporting the racial justice movement won’t cut it. We want to see real action that will help heal our communities.

Let’s do this.