Publix announced on its corporate website Friday that they are going to “suspend corporate-funded political contributions as we re-evaluate our giving processes.”
That decision comes after the Lakeland-based grocery chain faced online backlash for giving more than $600,000 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam. The current Commissioner of Agriculture has called himself a "proud NRA sellout" for his support of the National Rifle Association.
Gun control advocates took to social media to criticize Publix for it's campaign donations using #BoycottPublix. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor David Hogg also organized a "die-in" protest at the two Publix stores in Parkland Friday afternoon.
Productive morning with @firepfeiffer1 pic.twitter.com/eL4r5oZmxD— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 25, 2018
Join @ChangeTheRef, @davidhogg111 & others as we #ProtestPublix by staging a "die-in" at the #CoralSprings @Publix pic.twitter.com/yQO1qzaSWC— Change the Ref (@ChangeTheRef) May 25, 2018
Hogg has also called on Publix to donate to the Stoneman Douglas Victims Fund.
Publix's full statement:
At Publix, we respect the students and members of the community who have chosen to express their voices on these issues. We regret our contributions have led to a divide in our community. We did not intend to put our associates and the customers they serve in the middle of a political debate. At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining a welcoming shopping environment for our customers.
We would never knowingly disappoint our customers or the communities we serve. As a result, we decided earlier this week to suspend corporate-funded political contributions as we re-evaluate our giving processes.
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