Target to come to aid of areas hardest hit by protests, riots

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As protests continued over the weekend, some retailers were forced to close for safety, The Associated Press reported.

Target, CVS, Apple and Walmart all either closed temporarily or shortened their hours as protests over the death of George Floyd were overshadowed by violence. Stores in some communities were looted and burned, the AP reported.

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Target, which is based in Minneapolis, closed six stores and more than 200 stores had operating their hours shortened, the AP reported.

Target has almost 1,900 stores in the U.S., CNN reported.

But the company isn’t letting employees lose out on their earnings.

A statement from Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell, released Saturday, said all displaced team members, including 200 employees in the hardest hit store on Lake Street in Minneapolis will get their full pay and benefits for the coming weeks.

Those workers who are losing hours at the stores that were closed will be paid for up to 14 days of scheduled hours while their locations are not open for business. That income also includes the COVID-19 premium pay. Employees can also work at other Target locations, the company said.

The company also pledges to rebuild the store that was damaged, hoping to reopen it by the end of the year, the AP reported.

The store’s location, according to the company, was near the place where George Floyd was killed.

Community members have stepped up to help clear the wreckage left behind. The company has boarded up the location until they can take a look at how badly the location was damaged.

The company isn’t forgetting its customers or community either.

Target is teaming up with local officials and other partners to get resources directly into the hands of families who need it, the company said in the statement.

Those resources include first aid supplies, water and other essentials, company officials said.