Heavy hearts and disgust this morning in Central Islip, NY.

My hometown of Central Islip plans a protest and the local Target decides to board its windows. They are the only store in the shopping center to do so. 

No other Target on Long Island has been boarded up yet there have been peaceful protests for the past 7+ days in communities all over Long Island daily. Some of these protests have even used the Target parking lots as a landmark for the start and/or end of their walks.  

They opened a store in a beautifully diverse community and hired a ton of local residents. Yet they are sending the message that our community getting together to march against injustice and racism is a “real threat to their store.” This is exactly the problem!

We want to hear from corporate on why this decision was made. 

Why Central Islip?

Why now?

According to Neighborhood Scout, this is the breakdown of the racial and ethnic diversity in some communities that are also hosting Black Lives Matter protests on Long Island and also happen to have a local Target, none of which were boarded up. 

Central Islip
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) – 45.9%
Black – 25.9%
White – 22.6%
Asian – 3.2%
Other or more than 2 races - 2.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native – 0.1% 

Sayville
White – 90.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) – 4.5%
Asian – 2.5%
Other or more than 2 races - 1.6%
Black – 0.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander –0.2%

Commack
White: 85.7%
Hispanic – 6.2%
Asian – 4.7%
Other or more than 2 races - 1.9%
Black – 1.5%