Owners of brands who were once championed by Target before the big-box retailer rolled back DEI efforts say a boycott would do more harm than supporting their brands would.

Anger at Target surged after it followed other companies that abandoned DEI programs, but Black-owned businesses that struggled to earn shelf space there urged critics to focus on buying minority-owned companies' products instead.

Target is not welcome at the Twin Cities Pride Festival this year despite being a longtime sponsor, organizers say, because the company recently ended some of its DEI programs.