A liberal-led boycott of Goya Foods has sparked a conservative backlash, with more than $250,000 raised in less than four days to purchase Goya products for food banks.
Casey Harper, a television producer in Arlington, Va., set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe.com after U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats called for a boycott of Goya when its CEO appeared at the White House July 9 and said the U.S. was “blessed” to have President Trump.
Goya CEO Robert Unanue made the comments at Trump’s signing of the Hispanic Prosperity Initiative. Unanue – who said he prays for Trump – also announced Goya was donating 2 million pounds of food to food banks to assist families impacted by the pandemic.
Goya’s products are a staple in many Hispanic homes.
Harper, a producer for Sinclair and Eric Bolling, set up the fundraiser with an initial goal of $10,000. As of Wednesday morning, it had netted $255,000.
During the Obama administration, Unanue also appeared at an event with First Lady Michelle Obama.
“What if we rise up to say no to cancel culture AND feed the hungry at the same time?” Harper asked in his initial post. “... GOYA is facing a boycott that could cost the CEO his job. The liberal mob is coming for anyone who disagrees. Cancel culture at its worst. We need to have our voice heard!”
Harper said he personally spent $225.29 on GOYA products after the boycott launched.
“Americans are at our best when we love fiercely and take bold action for what we believe in,” he wrote.
Although Harper’s initial goal was to donate Goya products to food banks only in the Washington D.C. area, the massive success of the fundraiser has allowed him to donate to other regions.
“Donations beyond the $150K mark will go to pantries beyond the Washington DC area,” he wrote.
The Goya CEO hasn’t backed down.
“You're allowed to talk good or talk praise to one president but you're not – when I was called to be part of this commission to aid in economic and educational prosperity and you make a positive comment, all the sudden that's not acceptable,” Unanue told Fox News. “If you're called by the president of the United States, you're going to say, ‘No I'm sorry, I'm busy, no thank you?’ I didn't say that to the Obamas and I didn't say that to President Trump.”
Related:
AOC and Dems Boycott Goya after CEO Says U.S. Is ‘Blessed’ to Have President Trump
Photo courtesy: Casey Harper
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
