Community Corner
Publix Boycott? Twitter Crowd Irked Over Supermarket Heiress’ $300,000 Donation For Jan. 6 Rally Prior To Riot
Longtime grocery shoppers and Twitter critics are responding, saying they're ditching Publix following a Wall Street Journal report.
By Diane Rado
January 31, 2021
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Longtime grocery shoppers and other critics on Twitter are responding to #BOYCOTTPUBLIX, saying they’re ditching Publix following a Wall Street Journal report about who largely funded a rally Jan. 6 prior to the riot at the U.S. Capitol. At least five people died.
The WSJ reported that the Florida-based Publix chain heiress Julie Jenkins Fancelli donated $300,000 for the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the riot.
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The grocery chain provided a statement earlier that included: “Mrs. Fancelli is not an employee of Publix Super Markets, and is neither involved in our business operations, nor does she represent the company in any way. We cannot comment on Mrs. Fancelli’s actions.”
But the Twitter crowd isn’t buying it and several people on Twitter say they’re done with the longtime grocery chain.
Here are some of the comments:
“Wish I knew that before I shopped there last week. Won’t be going there anymore.”
“Will never set foot in a Publix again.”
“I have been a loyal @Publix shopper for years, but I went to @traderjoes today instead and I ain’t looking back.”
“I was an avid Publix shopper, no more.”
The Wall Street Journal included a new Sunday statement from Fancelli, who said: “I am a proud conservative and have real concerns associated with election integrity, yet I would never support any violence, particularly the tragic and horrific events that unfolded on January 6th.”
In addition, not all people have been critical about the donation or Publix, and they will likely continue to shop at the longtime grocery chain.
Meanwhile, other people on Twitter mentioned Gov. Ron DeSantis’ initiative with Publix for administering vaccinations. And media outlets have questioned $100,000 in Publix donations to the governor’s political committee.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that: “State records show that Publix cut the last of four $25,000 checks to DeSantis’ campaign committee on Dec. 31. Five days later, DeSantis announced the state’s exclusive partnership with Publix.
DeSantis has denied there was any tit for tat.”
This story was originally published by the Florida Phoenix. For more stories from the Florida Phoenix, visit FloridaPhoenix.com.