McDonald’s hit with new mass boycott. Here’s who’s behind it and why

By Charlie Sawyer

Published Jun 24, 2025 at 04:29 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

68299

McDonald’s is in hot water once again. The global fast food chain has been under boycott from the BDS movement for over a year due to the franchise’s Israeli branch making the decision to give out free meals to Israel Defence Force (IDF) soldiers. And now, another grassroots advocacy group has initiated a boycott of the company, citing concerns over alleged price gouging, unfair labour practices, and tax avoidance. Yikes.

According to The Independent, The People’s Union USA has launched a one-week-long boycott against McDonald’s due to a myriad of reasons, spanning from tax avoidance to performative diversity and inclusion schemes.

Posting extensively about the boycott on social media, the pressure group stated: “[McDonald’s] exploit tax loopholes and do not pay their fair share. They engage in price gouging while wages stay low. They suppress workers’ rights and union efforts. They support political figures who threaten democracy. They practice performative DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] with no meaningful change. They prioritize profit over people, community, and truth. We are the economy.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Schwarz (@theonecalledjai)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Schwarz (@theonecalledjai)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Schwarz (@theonecalledjai)

In another post, the People’s Union wrote: “This is about more than burgers and fries, this is about power. When we unite and hit corporations in their wallets, they listen.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Schwarz (@theonecalledjai)

John Schwarz, the Organisation Leader and Founder of The People’s Union USA, began organising “economic blackouts” at the beginning of 2025, “motivated by the corporate rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs as well as other grievances.”

According to the group’s website, Schwarz’s role focuses on “building structure, strategy, and sustainable growth for the movement.”

McDonald’s was indeed one of the first corporations to begin rolling back its DEI programmes, subsequently prompting a litany of boycotts and protests.

Schwarz has previously organised and promoted a number of other national boycotts, targeting companies such as Target, Starbucks, and Walmart.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Schwarz (@theonecalledjai)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Schwarz (@theonecalledjai)

The McDonald’s boycott is due to start today, Tuesday 24 June, and finish on Monday 30 June.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

The BDS movement and gen Z are boycotting Disney+, McDonald’s, and Starbucks. Here’s why

By Charlie Sawyer

Yung Filly’s legal troubles mount as the rapper faces two new sexual assault charges in Australia

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

How incel TikTok accounts are rebranding to avoid getting banned

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Alix Earle sues Gymshark for dropping $1 million deal over pro-Israel posts

By Charlie Sawyer

Meghan Trainor is not responsible for eradicating fatphobia. But her fans also have a right to be upset

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Australian erotic novelist charged with child abuse material offenses after backlash over latest book

By Eliza Frost

Misogyny, sexism, and the manosphere: how this year’s Love Island UK has taken a step backwards

By Eliza Frost

Taylor Swift announces new album on Travis Kelce’s podcast. Everything we know about TS12 so far

By Eliza Frost

Will Belly choose herself in the final episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Charlie Sawyer

What is ketamine therapy, the psychiatric treatment healing famous Mormons Jen and Zac Affleck’s marriage?

By Charlie Sawyer

President Trump and JD Vance angry over the DNC setting up a taco truck outside RNC headquarters

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Did Chappell Roan push her assistant on the red carpet? We analyse the footage

By Julie Huynh

Hockey fan edits are taking over TikTok, and it’s all thanks to Gen Z girlies

By Charlie Sawyer

First look at $1 billion UK mini city where controversial HBO Harry Potter series will be filmed

By Charlie Sawyer

Father of former Harry Potter star gives serious warning to the new child stars in HBO Max reboot

By Charlie Sawyer

UK government’s new murder prediction tool draws comparison to Tom Cruise film, Minority Report

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Belgian court lets convicted rapist go free so he can become a gynaecologist

By Eliza Frost

Why do people want a nose like the Grinch? The Whoville TikTok trend explained

By Alma Fabiani

The disturbing TikTok trend sexualising fake Down syndrome faces using AI filters

By Charlie Sawyer

Chris Brown is facing over 10 years in prison. Here’s how his violent past has led him here