Day-long boycott of world corporations takes aim at NRA

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A one day boycott of Apple, FedEx, and Amazon is the latest salvo in the fight against the National Rifle Association.

The twitter hashtag “Boycott NRA” has been gaining traction since the shooting in Parkland Florida galvanized opposition to the powerful gun lobby.

Apple is consistently one of the most profitable companies in the world, so a short dip in sales probably wouldn’t affect their bottom line.

However, SFU Marketing Professor Lindsay Meredith says if your goal is to send a message, this is a good way to make them listen.

“Will those organizations notice that kind of thing? If a boycott were really effective and really, really took a lot of people on board, yeah you bet a message would be sent,” he tells NEWS 1130.

He says thanks to social media customers have a way to send a clear message to big companies. It’s no longer a one-way street. “Now consumers are hitting back, and they’re hitting back hard,” Meredith explains. “My prediction is you’re going to see more of this, you’re going to see more vehement reaction from consumers, and I think this whole NRA thing is just a perfect focal point for it.”

While a 24-hour period may not seem long, Meredith says even short boycotts can send a potent message, if enough consumers get on board. “…Imagine the amount of transactions carried out by people at Apple and FedEx in that 24 hour period.”

Apple and Amazon are under fire for offering NRA TV, which activists say propagates dangerous misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric.

Meanwhile, FedEx provides a deep discount for NRA members, and has so far held firm despite the growing backlash.

Vancouver-based company Mountain Equipment Co-op announced today that it would suspend further orders of five brands of outdoor gear owned by Vista Outdoor. That manufacturer is linked to the maker of a semi-automatic assault rifle that was used in the Florida high school massacre.

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