CINCINNATI (WKR) – Small business owners in Cincinnati are encouraging consumers to shop locally during the economic blackout planned for Friday.

The movement was created by The People’s Union USA, a grassroots organization.

Leaders with the union said they are not affiliated with a political party, instead their goal for the blackout is to combat rising prices, underpaid workers and “greedy” corporations.

Consumers are encouraged to avoid in-store and online shopping with large corporations like Walmart, Target and Amazon from midnight Feb. 27 to midnight Feb. 28.

The group asked consumers to shop locally, if they must make purchases throughout the blackout.

Dawn Grady, owner of Junebug Jewelry Designs, agrees with this initiative.

“We’re telling everybody ‘shop local,'” Grady said. “Give the money to your local economy where it’s going to matter the most.”

She and Tessa Clark, owner of Idlewild, are a part of a small business association in Over-the-Rhine.

“A lot of times, you can align your values with small businesses, and you can get to know people,” Clark said. “So, it’s important to create relationships with the business owners and community in your neighborhoods.”

The blackout comes weeks after consumers planned a similar boycott with companies like Target, after it rolled back DEI initiatives.