Yahoo Lifestyle
People Are Calling for a Boycott of This Grocery Chain Over DC Riots
The fallout from the riots that took place at The Capitol on Jan. 6 are far-reaching, and a southern grocery store chain has found itself in hot waters in the aftermath.
Rouses Markets is facing social media backlash after a photo of its co-founder posed among a sea of Trump supporters gathered near the White House on Wednesday surfaced and was widely shared on Facebook and Twitter. (Related: The Saddest Restaurant Closures In Your State.)
Related: Violent breach at Capitol triggers DC uncertainty
According to The Sun Herald, Donald Rouse Sr., the now-retired co-founder of the Louisiana-based grocer, was pictured alongside former Rouses human resources director Steve Galtier at the Washington, D.C. rally in support of President Trump, which preceded the violent storming of The Capitol. The public photo was posted to Facebook by Galtier himself, alongside the caption "Millions in DC today with us — more to follow."
The since-deleted Facebook post was captured by blogger Lamar White, Jr. and shared on Twitter, where it quickly amassed criticism and calls for a boycott of the grocery chain in the comment section.
Donald Rouse, Sr. (right), the co-owner of the Louisiana-based grocery chainstore Rouses Markets, and former Rouses HR Director Steve Galtier traveled to DC to protest election, according to a public post on Galtier's FB.
He claims they were alongside "millions" of "patriots." pic.twitter.com/x0pDw62oBH
— Lamar White, Jr. (@LamarWhiteJr) January 7, 2021
And Rouses thinks they're getting any more of MY money?
Nope
— Rob Anderson 🇺🇸 (@RobAnderson2018) January 7, 2021
Such a shame. No more @RousesMarkets for me. Trader Joe's will be my one stop now.
— Kira (@kira_mn) January 7, 2021
Please don't tell me this. I go to Rouses all the time. I guess, I'll get going to another grocery store
— Rep. Ted James (@EdwardTedJames) January 7, 2021
Rouse Sr. has since issued a statement condemning the violent storming of The Capitol, saying he had no part in it.
"I attended the rally yesterday as a supporter of the president and to be in our nation's capital at the close of his presidency," he said in a statement Thursday, according to The Daily Advertiser. "I left before the violence began and was shocked and saddened to see it unfold on TV. I condemn the actions of those who unlawfully entered and damaged our hallowed institutions and threatened our public servants. Violence and destruction do not represent our country's values, or the values of Rouses."
Rouses Markets operates more than 70 grocery stores across Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, and employs more than 6,500 workers.
Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to get the latest grocery news delivered straight to your inbox.
