Target Corporation’s Safe City program, which creates and funds partnerships with local police, may exacerbate existing systemic racial inequities and could potentially violate civil and human rights. Financial, reputational, legal and human capital risks related to the company’s Safe City program could also adversely affect shareholder value.

Despite Target’s commitment to advancing racial equity, (https://bit.ly/3mrvGfL) it continues partnerships with law enforcement, providing both legitimacy and funding to policing practices that can exacerbate racial inequity (https://bit.ly/384Q1CJ). These partnerships have resulted in negative press because of their harmful impacts on communities of color (https://bit.ly/37Pct2x and https://bit.ly/33YFTtQ).

Many of Target’s Safe City programs expanded local surveillance networks, funding everything from widescale implementation of surveillance cameras to the creation of data sharing networks for law enforcement (https://bit.ly/3npWiiF). The U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression has noted that “surveillance tools can interfere with human rights” and that “it is critical that companies […] adhere to their human rights responsibilities, including conducting rigorous human rights assessments” in relation to these tools (https://bit.ly/389vzjY).

In addition to civil rights concerns, such as privacy protections, raised at the time of implementation, evidence suggests that Safe City programs shifted policing tactics in some cities from a focus on violent crime to low-level offenses (https://bit.ly/34gLxI0). This approach to policing has been shown to increase race-based economic burdens and further criminalize poverty (https://bit.ly/2Wiu39L).

Safe City partnerships may hurt Target’s ability to establish and maintain good relations with employees and customers. Recent reports demonstrate that more people are seeking employment with companies that match their values. For instance, an Accenture report found that 92% of 2016 college graduates said it was important that their employer demonstrate social responsibility (https://accntu.re/34iWCs9). Target has already faced pushback from employees and customers. Over 3,000 people, including employees, customers and others, signed a petition asking Target to “immediately cease its funding of police foundations and its Safe Cities program.” (https://bit.ly/3gOEuvj)

Although Target commissioned a report assessing its Safe City Program in 2010, the report focused on the efficacy of the program in reducing crime. We are concerned that potential human and civil rights impacts of this program have not received adequate attention from leadership, especially given the company’s recent public statements in support of racial equity. With respect to its partnerships with police, Target has stated, “We understand the grave concerns that are being raised and the need for holistic change,” yet the public has yet to see any demonstrated change regarding these partnerships.

RESOLVED: Shareholders of Target Corporation urge the Board of Directors to instate a prohibition on Safe City partnerships unless the board concludes, after an evaluation using independent evidence, that these partnerships do not increase the likelihood of violations of civil and human rights and do not exacerbate racial inequity.