Activists protest Target in Minneapolis over racist Halloween costume
Activists gathered outside Target's headquarters in Minneapolis on 28 August, demanding an explanation for a children's Halloween costume that critics said resembled blackface, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported. Target said it had withdrawn the clown costume on 23 August after accusations that its design echoed minstrel-era blackface imagery and issued an apology, saying the item should never have been sold.
The controversy sent the retailer's shares down about 5% in early trading, KSL News noted. The removal had been reported by multiple outlets, including Yahoo and PBS, which described the design as resembling blackface.