The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is calling for advocates to come together and push back against federal efforts they say are targeting civil rights and freedoms.

Ahead of the coalition’s annual conference this weekend, the group is planning a Target protest Thursday. Yusef Jackson, Rainbow PUSH’s executive director, said activists and Rainbow PUSH Coalition staff will travel on public transit to the downtown Target store on State Street to peacefully protest the lack of corporate support for civil rights.

On Saturday, the coalition plans to join up at Chicago’s No Kings rally.

After the group’s previous leader resigned last year after just a few months on the job, Jackson is supporting his father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., in leading the Rainbow PUSH Coalition with a new focus on speaking out against what they view as civil rights violations from President Donald Trump.

Jackson said the demonstration at Target is to draw attention to many corporations’ abandonment of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives after pressure from the Trump administration. Jackson said Target’s capitulation to the administration showed that the company doesn’t value its Black customers.

“Target made commitments to us that they broke,” Jackson said. “They made commitments to us after the George Floyd killing that they have just broken. So it seems that Target has decided they want our foot traffic but they don’t want our seats at the board; they don’t want our seats at the table.”

The organization’s annual People’s Conference will bring nationally recognized activists and faith leaders such as the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jamal Bryant to Chicago Thursday through Sunday. Jackson said the conference will focus on bringing activists together to discuss legislative reforms and push for action through civic engagement. He said it’s important for advocates to take action instead of becoming passive and waiting for change from politicians.

“The evangelicals that elected Donald Trump did not wait on the Republican Party to give them policy,” Jackson said. “They gave the policy to the Republican Party and said, ‘Here’s what we want,’ and they found the guy to effect their legislation. We are sitting back and waiting for Democrats to give us policy, but it’s the people who have the power and we must give them policy.”

Jackson said the activism against the Trump administration serves as a reminder to those opposed to his policies to remain persistent. Jackson said he hopes the People’s Conference and this weekend’s rallies will help lay the groundwork to continue pushing for change and working with a new generation of activists who want progressive reforms.

“Continue to learn and think about how we got here and why we’re in this position,” Jackson said. “You’re going to have to vote in the midterms because the midterm elections are not that far away. We can turn this ship around in the next few months.”

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