As a newly minted resident of Atlanta, I have in recent weeks done some of my grocery shopping at Publix in several of their locations in Midtown and the Old Fourth Ward.
Today, Publix has made headlines with the news that Julia Jenkins Fancelli, the heiress to the company's fortune, donated most of the money to organize the now infamous rally in Washington, D.C. which led to the siege of the U.S. Capitol. Fancelli donated $300,000 of the $500,000 it cost to put on the rally.
This has led for calls on Twitter for a boycott of Publix.
While I think Fancelli's actions are deplorable I believe boycotting Publix would be a mistake for three reasons.
First, Fancelli has no direct role with the company. If the company itself had donated to the rally then I would give it further consideration. But even then there are two other points to consider.
A boycott of Publix wouldn't affect Fancelli but rather Publix employees many of whom are African-American and Latino and working there is a path to the middle class. Indeed, Publix is the largest employee owned company in the world. In that regard, boycotting Publix would be counterproductive.
Third, Publix is concentrated largely in red states. It was founded in Florida more than 90 years ago and has gradually expanded to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Virginia. In view of this fact any concerted effort to boycott Publix would cause Trump supporters in this part of the country to "buycott" the company if they are not already doing so.
The siege of the U.S. Capitol is one of the darkest days in our country's history and Julia Jenkins Fancelli played a role in dimming the light. But boycotting Publix isn't going to brighten that light.
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