Stay Out of the Dark American Family Association Tells Shoppers to Keep Away from Target on Black Friday

TUPELO, Miss.—Last month, a mother and her children left a Target store in Woburn, Massachusetts, “terrified” after a man offered the 10-year-old daughter candy in the women’s restroom, commented on her clothing and reportedly tried to get into the stall the little girl was using.

The parents called the police, who spoke with the man who claimed to identify as a woman.

These kinds of frightening incidences are exactly why the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) is working to protect families and urging them to avoid visiting Target stores. Shopping there on the upcoming Black Friday and for the Christmas season just isn’t worth the risk.

 “Target can be a very scary place,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “Incident after incident proves that, and yet Target refuses to make a change that would keep women and children safe, even after frightening experiences for shoppers. It’s never too late to join 1.5 million other concerned citizens and sign AFA’s #BoycottTarget pledge. We must band together and vow not to shop at Target—neither in store nor online—for the upcoming Christmas gift-giving season.”

A representative from Keep MA Safe, which urged residents to vote “no” on ballot issue No. 3, said the girl was “terrified” but was fortunately unharmed, reported One News Now, the news service of AFA. Keep MA Safe educated voters about the importance to repeal the 2016 bathroom and locker law that eliminated the right to privacy and safety in public restrooms, locker rooms, showers and changing facilities. On Nov. 6, however, Massachusetts residents voted to preserve the law, according to The Hill.

Ever since Target announced in 2016 that its women’s fitting rooms were open to all, a scary scene like the above is reality, says AFA, whose highly successful, effective and 1.5 million-signature strong #BoycottTarget initiative has educated millions of American families about Target’s ill-advised and dangerous policy.

“As AFA has stated many times,” Wildmon added, “our worries do not stem from fear of the transgender community, but rather, from both the real and potential threat that predators and voyeurs would take advantage of the Target bathroom policy to harm women and children—and there are plenty of incidents to show that they have.”

As frightening incidents at Target stores continue, AFA is asking shoppers to take action in several ways:

• BOYCOTT—Don’t shop at Target on Black Friday or this Christmas season, neither in-store nor online.
• SIGN—If you haven’t already, sign the #BoycottTarget pledge here. If you have signed, keep the commitment not to shop at Target stores or online.
• SHARE—Ask family, friends and church members to sign the pledge. One effective strategy is to voice concerns politely but firmly on Target’s Facebook page and other social media sites using #BoycottTarget.
• CALL—Phone Target headquarters at 612-304-6073 and personally let them know you are boycotting their stores.

American Family Association is available to do immediate breaking news interviews via its LTN line at AFA studio headquarters. Contact Media@HamiltonStratetgies.com for information or call 610.584.1096, ext. 102.

For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc. Read more about AFA.

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To interview a representative from American Family Association, contact Deborah Hamilton, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.