North Carolina Grocery Shoppers Join In Boycott Of Publix

CHARLOTTE, NC — The movement to boycott Publix Super Markets started in Florida as a result of news that someone related to the top helped finance the rally that preceded insurrection at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

But while some in North Carolina feel moved to join Floridians in spurning the grocery chain, others criticized the move, saying the grocer is too big to be affected.

Publix heiress Julie Jenkins Fancelli donated $300,000 to pay for the Jan. 6 rally before the riot at the U.S. Capitol, which has caused some customers to boycott the popular grocery chain, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Fancelli, who is the daughter of Publix founder George Jenkins, donated more than $980,000 to former President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign and the Republican Party, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to USA Today, she provided the majority of the funds for the $500,000 rally in front of the White House. After that rally, some in the crowd mobilized to storm the Capitol, which led to five deaths, a lockdown for members of Congress and Trump's second impeachment.

Fancelli's donation was facilitated by far-right radio show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars, the Journal reported.

As of Saturday, the hashtag #BoycottPublix trended across Twitter, where customers posted they would discontinue their shopping at Publix and switch to Target and other grocery store chains.

Twitter user "Lovelife" in Charlotte tweeted: "I told my husband that we will no longer shop at Publix. We are in Charlotte, NC. Several of my friends are doing the same."

However, another Twitter user in North Carolina tweeted that it was it's wasted effort: "Two stores who are boycott proof… @ChickfilA and @Publix… just saying. Best in their respective businesses… it's time for people to grow up anyways."

Publix also responded in a tweet that said, "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."

"The violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a national tragedy. The deplorable actions that occurred that day do not represent the values, work or opinions of Publix Super Markets."
Publix partnered with the state of Georgia in January to provide vaccinations at pharmacy locations across the state.

Publix is headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, and in addition to North Carolina, has stores in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Marcus Garner, Patch staff, contributed