November 25, 2025
By Eve Copeland

A coalition of local activists will take to the sidewalks of Hill Road on Nov. 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. as part of the nationwide “We Ain’t Buying It” campaign, a Black Friday boycott aimed at sending an economic message to major retailers and the political leaders they are seen as supporting. This campaign includes organizers from No Kings, along with groups that have participated in earlier demonstrations, including Indivisible, 50501, and the Reynoldsburg Resistance.

“The ‘We Ain’t Buying It’ campaign is calling for a Black Friday boycott of major retailers,” said Pickerington organizer Carole James. “This boycott is intended as an economic pressure campaign to protest the Trump administration’s actions, including its anti-immigration and anti-DEI policies, and the corporations that haven’t opposed them.” 

James said the movement is also directly calling out wealthy political and corporate figures. “Specifically, we are calling out the billionaires and their companies who contributed to the destruction of the east wing of the White House. Shoppers are urged to boycott large retailers like Target, Amazon, and Home Depot and instead support local and small businesses as well as resale and thrift stores.”

Organizers selected the sidewalk in front of the Hunter’s Run Shopping Center (1760 Hill Rd. N,) due to its visibility and accessible pedestrian space.

“The location was chosen due to its proximity to shopping areas and sidewalks,” James said. 

The Pickerington organizers are working in tandem with activists in Reynoldsburg.

“The Reynoldsburg Resistance is working in collaboration with us and we with them. We support one another’s activities in the fight for our Democratic Republic.”

A Call for Community Support

In addition to its political goals, the event includes a charitable effort to support local families through the Pickerington Food Pantry as well as food pantries in Reynoldsburg. 

“We would like participants and community members to know that we are collecting non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items for those federal employees who worked unpaid for over a month and those who have been stripped of SNAP benefits by the cruelty of our federal government administration with the GOP’s complicity,” James said.

Participants are invited to bring unexpired non-perishable food or personal hygiene items to donate during the event. Organizers emphasize that the protest is intended to be peaceful, family-friendly, and focused on both civic engagement and community care.

Individuals can sign up to participate at: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/866735/.