My Last Chance Letter to Publix

Dear Publix,

I am writing this to you with disappointment, frustration, and concern. Now, of course by now you are constantly receiving backlash and criticism for the heiress to your brand putting money to help finance the Capitol riots----which if we’re being more specific was a coup attempt, an attempt to overthrow democracy and turn the Trump administration into a dictatorship. We should not be downplaying a single aspect of this, as there were deaths and near assassinations during that horrific afternoon.

Now, I do know that your company has publicly denounced the Capitol terrorist attacks, calling them deplorable among other things. I know that Publix would never ever want to be linked to the likes of Alex Jones, and I do know that this heiress isn’t even technically employed within the Publix company. However, your other actions that have been occurring around the same time and in recent years presents a troubling picture. You have indeed continued donating money to gun rights groups after promising to put a stop to that post-Parkland shooting, and you did donate a good amount of money to mini-Trump Ron DeSantis while simultaneously obtaining nearly-exclusive access to vaccines when they should be available nearly everywhere.

Your company does make donations to both parties ultimately, but they have historically consistently remained skewed towards the Republican side. Normally I wouldn’t say much, after all, I don’t attack based strictly on political preference.

But, we are not seeing a cohesive Republican Party nowadays.

The Republican Party we are seeing is an extremely hostile group of politicians chock full of conspiracy theorists, white supremacists with increased political power, MAGAs whose view of America is a very dangerous one for minorities, and ultimately a core of insurrecitonists heavily denying the results of a democratic election that had already been through 60 thrown out lawsuits based on lack of evidence of fraud. All this is on top of the recent horrendous activity of the Republican Party, especially in Florida—who keep trying to add obstacles to already-passed laws like minimum wage and giving ex-convicts the right to vote. This is not the supposed-moral Republican Party of the past, they have become a fringe political minority bullying and thrashing their way to maintain power and oppress minorities and poor Americans. Ron DeSantis was among those who also was denying Joe Biden’s victory as long as possible, which helped snowball the fictitious storyline to said events of January 6th. You have also given money to other politicians that voted to try to overturn the election results (Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville).

You can denounce the terrorist attack and attempted coup all you want, but you are linked to it because of your commitment to donating to those who represent the president and the administration that tried wrecking American democracy. Unfortunately, you are going to have to face the same backlash that other companies over recent years have received.

If you truly want to show that you are against the atrocities of the Republican Party and the actions of what occurred in early January, then words will not be enough. Words mean nothing nowadays. We need a strong display of unity with democracy, we need a strong display that proves that despite your loose connections and financial donations, you really aren’t associated with the Republican Party’s behavior. I have one suggestion, one that might prevent me and millions of others from outright boycotting your supermarkets for the foreseeable future.

Remove Goya from your supermarkets.  

Goya has become one of the most prominent companies that was pro-Trump, which was a doubly frustrating and infuriating action considering Goya’s origins in Latin America and considering the Trump Administration’s brutally awful history with Latin America and Latin Americans in both hemispheres. From having secret military in Central America preventing migrants from traveling to attempted coups in Venezuela and Bolivia, to the racist activity along the border, to especially what’s happened to Puerto Rico, it has been especially difficult being Latino in the Age of Trump. On top of that, their CEO is still CEO despite believing and spreading the conspiracy theory about Trump being the actual victor in the recent election.

Goya did censure him (yawn), but this only comes after years of the company supporting the racist and clearly anti-Latinx president. Too little, too late. Then there was their trolling of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (noted target during the insurrection) for making her “Employee of the Month” just because they (falsely) believe she was protesting their products, and trying to trash the image of a prominent Puerto Rican politician that is anti-Trump. Note this, even after it was revealed that the politician Goya openly mocked turned out to be the target of attempted assassinations, they still have their main boss spewing the conspiracy theory of a “stolen election.” That’s irresponsibility to the nth degree. If there is a company that can severely hurt their profit margin with a message that their behavior and beliefs at the top will not be tolerated, it would be Publix.  

My request is very simple. You can keep your donations, you can keep putting money in the pockets of everyone on the “left” and on the “right.” I’d rather you not ever send money to pro-gun rights groups and horrible politicians, but that conversation is ultimately for another day.

But right now, I strongly request you cut Goya.

Cut Goya from your product lineup and deliver the strongest message about not wanting to be associated with anyone or anything that promotes the ongoing conspiracy theories about Trump being the supposed actual winner of the election. Cut Goya to show this country and show the world that you support the realities of the 2020 election and that even though your company clearly favors Republicans, as a company you collectively cannot allow for this conspiracy theory and pro-Trump rhetoric to continue in any shape or form. This is a tall order, but as of right now you are the latest large company to be in the crosshairs of the American public. Even if it’s the dimwitted heiress that donated money to an eventual terrorist attack, your name is still attached to many traitorous politicians. But eliminating Goya would send the clearest of messages.

Until then though, my money will almost completely avoid your businesses. This is especially frustrating because your supermarkets are easily among the best in the entire state, not gonna lie. My money already doesn’t go to Wal-Mart for their shady practices, I don’t go to Whole Foods and Trader Joes because of their anti-union behaviors. Don’t get me started on Hobby Lobby. To avoid appearing like a hypocrite, I’m letting you know I have indeed boycotted many stores and markets over the years.

But after seeing your recent donations and rather quiet response after the Capitol riots until the insurrectionist money was directly linked to you, on top of the bizarre coincidence of the donations and somehow having all the vaccines---which in case you didn’t know also disenfranchises minority neighborhoods due to their lack of proximity to your supermarkets in South Florida, I don’t feel right in spending money on your stores unless you make a firmer commitment to what’s right.

It will not be enough to simply stop spending money on politicians, because we are way past that point, that ship has sailed, the DeSantis regime which has been a disastrous and deadly failure has your money. Elected traitors within the Republican Party also has your money. In my eyes, you need to step to the plate and really be among the first major American companies on Republican soil to loudly resent and loudly denounce the fringe growing group of politicians and cultists poisoning your political party. The boldest move you can make is harming the most prominent Latin American company that has helped spread conspiracy theories on top of lending support towards an anti-Latinx president. This may harm your sales, but this won’t harm your brand, this will in fact help your image and may even make you more money as you might have more people try out your products now that Goya is off the picture.

But denouncement is not enough. You are too connected, and you’ve invested way too much at this point to just send out statements. Cut Goya, win us back. Otherwise, you’ll be seeing way less of me, and will be seeing my car drive past each of your supermarkets way more often.

This is your final chance before you lose me, and losing others that are alongside me.

Step up, make bold actions. I’ve already quit so many places, so many companies. Don’t make me have to quit you too (which includes Winn-Dixie).

Sincerely, Disappointed Longtime Customer,

Milton E. Malespin

P.S. I guess you should know this, but this letter is also available to the public.