Two local supermarket chains, Rouses Supermarkets and Breaux Mart, issued statements Thursday afternoon in response to a social media furor over their owners’ political activities.
On Wednesday night, Lamar White Jr., the editor of Bayou Brief, posted a photo on Twitter of Rouses co-owner Donald Rouse Sr. and a former Rouses executive, Steve Galtier, from Galtier’s now-deleted Facebook page. It was taken at Wednesday’s pro-Trump demonstration in Washington, D.C. and originally posted to show that not everyone at the rally was maskless.
The photo went viral — setting off a frenzy of tweets and calls to boycott the store.
Then writer Michael Tisserand replied to a tweet that “Breaux Mart is better anyway” with examples of pro-Trump Facebook posts from Barry Breaux, the owner of Breaux Mart. Tisserand stated: “Rouses ownership went to DC while Breaux Mart ownership cheered from home.”
In tweet after tweet, Uptown residents wondered where they were going to buy their groceries now that they are boycotting both the Rouses Market on Tchoupitoulas Street and the Breaux Mart on Magazine Street.
In his statement below, Rouse condemned the violence and said he left before the crowd stormed the Capitol.
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. 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.
Though I am no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of Rouses, that’s my family’s name on the building and my actions reflect on my family, Rouses and this community I love so dearly. I’m horrified by the violence and destruction we saw yesterday and the pain it has caused so many. Our country desperately needs to come together to heal, and I will do everything I can to be a part of that process.
Breaux Mart issued this statement on Twitter:
What…Freedom of Speech and the right to be a member of half of the Country leads to a boycott? What snowflakes you are ? For my part and my large extended family, you can find us at Rousses & Breaux Mart.
“Supporting”a President who has a history of denigrating minorities (Central Park Five, Hispanic community) and who has never apologized for those defamatory statements leads one to question the moral integrity of Mr. Rouse and the others who attended Wednesday’s riot with participants proudly brandishing confederate flags on the Feast of the Epiphany. It doesn’t seem to me that there was any thought in his mind to the feelings of the many members of the minority community and others within the area who patronize his grocery store. Where were his pleas for unity that day? I for one would NEVER step into Rouse! His paltry “mea culpa “ is unacceptable.
I’ll be there with you!
Bunch of butt hurt snowflakes. How would you like it if people boycotted your business because you have different political views than them?
Can’t wait to give ALL of my business to Rouses from here on out. Cancel culture can no cancel us. We have rights to freedom speech and a choice to our individual belief and choices.
My small insignificant purchases at Rouses Will not make a difference but I am joining I the boycott of Rouses. No responsible person should have participated in what was sure to be a volatile event. God Bless our UNITED States of America. The money you spent on your unnecessary trip to OUR capital would have been better used to feed, clothe and house the needy in your community.
People died!!!!including a policeman
And Mr. Rouse had no part in killing him or the unarmed woman.
When we were young, we were taught to avoid the near occasion of sin and to help others live a better life. Were they thinking of the people of color who work in their markets for minimum wage and no hope of better jobs when they traveled to DC? This black mark is but one stain on their hearts. I expect there are many others. Look at the joy in their eyes. Shame.
I and my family are through shopping at Rouses. Our few dollars a week are minimal to the store cash register. But, there is strength in numbers.
Our people should find another grocery chain. The time is now to show our strength.