Economic Power: Boycott Amazon!

Where we choose to spend our money is one of our greatest collective strengths. Every purchase we make is an opportunity to support companies and products that align with our progressive values in support of human rights, labor rights, social justice, and environmental protection.  

We believe in the right of all human beings to live in a safe environment with fair access to opportunity within an inclusive economy. Each week we will highlight one company or product that does NOT align with our shared values and ideals.   

1. Category: Retail  
2. Company: Amazon 
3. Why boycott? No company represents the growing wealth gap between the billionaire class and the working class as much as Amazon.
   1. We have all seen images of Jeff Bezos sitting front row at 47’s inauguration while taking a break from lounging on his $500 million super yacht. It only took a $1 million dollar bribe to 47’s inaugural fund to get that VIP seat.  
   2. The average wage for an Amazon warehouse worker is $17/ hour while the Amazon CEO makes $40 million a year and other executives make tens of millions.  
   3. Amazon is killing small local business and actively engages in union busting.  
   4. With a net worth of around $240 BILLION dollars, nobody symbolizes “Tax the Rich” more that Jeff Bezos. According to 2024 numbers, he paid taxes at around 1%. 
4. Alternative ideas: Amazon has wormed its way into convenient shopping in our society, but it is not too big to fail. We have choices.
   1. If one chooses to window shop on Amazon, bypass buying through Amazon, and buy directly from the product’s company. Many companies have free shipping and what’s an extra day or two waiting for shipping to chip away at Bezo’s net worth. 
   2. For books, ebooks, and textbooks: bookshop.org supports local booksellers 
   3. For groceries and household goods: hivebrands.com offers sustainable and ethically sourced products in 100% recycled packaging.  
   4. For health and beauty: blkgrn.com (Black and Green) is a black-owned, cruelty-free, sustainably-made business that offers non-toxic health and beauty products featuring black artisans.  
   5. For travel, sports apparel, and outdoor adventure gear: REI is a consumer cooperative that invested nearly $9 million dollars into non-profits who work towards environmental justice. Additionally, while other business have bent a knee to 47, REI still has the word “diversity” on the website.  
   6. Instead of Amazon Fresh, Instacart with local retailers like Wegman’s, ALDI, and Costco.