Standing with Publix and the Second Amendment tomorrow and in the future
Parkland survivor David Hogg — currently one of the nation’s most outspoken, anti-gun advocates — is making headlines yet again. He’s unsuccessfully called for boycotts of Fox News host Laura Ingram and then BlackRock and Vanguard but why let those failures keep him down if at first and second times you don’t succeed Hogg clearly believe you should try again. This time he’s calling for the boycott and a “die in” of Publix supermarkets tomorrow (Friday, May 25, 2018), because the central-Florida based grocer supported Rep. Adam Putnam, an NRA-endorsed candidate, in the state’s gubernatorial election. His tweet says he’s going to be crashing his local stores but invites others to join at other locations. Meaning even here in Alabama we may see an activists or two (however unlikely) in our stores. .@Publix is a #NRASellOut In Parkland we will have a die in the Friday (the 25th) before memorial day weekend. Starting at 4pm for 12 min inside our 2 Publix stores. Just go an lie down starting at 4. Feel free to die in with us at as many other @Publix as possible. — David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 23, 2018 While I wholeheartedly disagree with both Hogg’s message and his tactics (hello, encouraging people to go lay down in grocery stores is absurd) I do applaud the fact that he’s engaged. I’ve said it before that my support of constitutional rights, in this case the First Amendment doesn’t just apply to those I agree with. I’m all for protecting the rights of those I disagree with if only the other side felt the same. That said, Hogg’s right to assembly, in this case, is up to Publix what happens once they’re there. I for one and hoping they don’t idly stand by while people make a scene in their stores and disrupt the lives of those simply going about their daily business trying to feed themselves and their families. Even the leftist (or are they progressive?) organization, ACLU will tell you that when protesting on private property the property owners have the right to tell you to leave. I see this as a as call to arms (figuratively speaking of course – Disclaimerfor those who would say I’m encouraging otherwise) to those of us who support Second Amendment rights and Publix’s right to support the candidates of their choice, to show up at our local Publix tomorrow and spend our money in opposition to the sideshow that Hogg is trying to create. What Hogg (or more accurately the gun control lobby and agenda pushers whispering in his ear) is focusing on is Publix’s political donations. What he misses is how much Publix does for the communities around its stores. Not just in Florida where they are based, but in every state, including Alabama where they have locations. I’ve researched Publix and its charitable giving. The company gives a TON of money to the Yellowhammer State and to entities that support our local communities. Here are just a few highlights of their Alabama-based charitable giving in just the last year: $500,000 in Alabama to help alleviate hunger as part of a wider, $5 million donation Four Alabama Habitat for Humanity affiliates supported to build houses and foster hope as part of a $5 million donation $569,100 to the Central United Way of Alabama Join me tomorrow in shopping at one of Publix’s 68 Alabama stores in a public show of support to thank them for all that they do in our neighborhoods. We cannot let our voices be drowned out by the voices who fail to to offer true and real solutions to the tragic shootings happening in our schools, but instead are painting good companies like Publix as bad guys.
Alabama’s Terri Sewell to boycott Donald Trump inauguration
Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell has confirmed she will join over 60 of her Democratic colleagues and boycott the inauguration ceremony for America’s 45th President, Republican Donald Trump. Despite hailing from an overwhelmingly red state, Sewell is following her friend Georgia Congressman’s John Lewis’ lead and skipping the event. Citing Trump’s recent comments to Lewis as the reason she refuses to attend. “While I have a profound respect for the office of the president, and I accept the results of the election, I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect shown by President-elect Trump towards American civil rights icon, my colleague, friend and mentor, the Honorable John Lewis,’’ Sewell said in a statement. Prayerfully, I have decided not to attend the inauguration. I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect of @repjohnlewis. #IStandWithJohn — Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) January 18, 2017 Sewell continued, “This decision was reached with great deliberation because I am deeply saddened by the negative political rhetoric on both sides. We must move forward together. I sincerely hope that upon his ascension as our President, that President Trump will choose to build bridges, set aside differences and embrace John Lewis. In fact, there is a bridge in my district where we all can gain inspiration, and I invite President Trump and Congressman Lewis to join me in visiting Selma to walk hand-in-hand across that bridge as one nation, indivisible and united.” Recently, the Trump and Lewis found themselves in a middle of a political feud, resulting in Lewis announcing he would not attend Trump’s inauguration. Since then over 60 of his Congressional colleagues, including Sewell, have also opted out of the historic event. Sewell is however extending an olive branch to the president-elect and has invited him to Selma to join her and Lewis in crossing the Edmund Pettis Bridge, made famous on “Bloody Sunday.” There’s a bridge in my district we all can gain inspiration! I invite Trump & Lewis to join me in Selma to cross that bridge as one nation! — Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) January 18, 2017
Hillary Clinton says she opposes boycott effort against Israel
Hillary Rodham Clinton says in a letter to American Jewish organizations that she opposes a grassroots protest movement promoting boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel over policies involving the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. Clinton said in the letter released Monday that she agreed on the need to make countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement, or BDS movement, a priority. Then Thursday letter sought advice on how to “fight back against further attempts to isolate and delegitimize Israel.” “As you know, BDS seeks to punish Israel and dictate how the Israelis and Palestinians should resolve the core issues of their conflict. That is not the path to peace,” Clinton wrote. The BDS movement has gained strength on U.S. college campuses and in Europe. The Israeli government and many Jewish leaders have called the movement anti-Semitic and an attempt to discredit Israel. BDS advocates say it is based on the campaign against South African apartheid and is aimed at Israeli policy, not Jews, after two decades of failed peace talks and expanded Israeli settlement of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Clinton said she was concerned by attempts to compare Israel to South African apartheid. “Israel is a vibrant democracy in a region dominated by autocracy, and it faces existential threats to its survival,” she wrote. The letter was addressed to each of the presidents in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations as well as Haim Saban, an Israeli-born U.S. media mogul and top Clinton donor who hosted Clinton at a Los Angeles fundraiser in May. It comes as the U.S. is working with allies to complete a nuclear agreement with Iran, which has been eyed warily by American Jewish leaders, and the Obama administration has sought to repair ties with Israel. Clinton’s campaign said the candidate had heard about the issue from a number of people over the past few months and wanted to seek advice from others who share her concerns. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
