Trump supporter raises over $190K to buy, donate Goya goods to the hungry amid boycott
A Virginia man vowing to “say no to cancel culture” has raised over $190,000 to stock local food pantries with Goya products after the CEO’s praise of President Donald Trump prompted calls for a boycott.
Casey Harper, a producer for conservative political pundit Eric Bolling, launched a GoFundMe page with plans to purchase Goya Foods products and donate them to food pantries across Washington, D.C., according to the online campaign.
My producer Casey.. doing a good deed while supporting @realDonaldTrump and making a strong statement re: the anti-cancel culture. https://t.co/Zx2iuGL36k
— ERIC BOLLING (@ericbolling) July 13, 2020
The fundraiser, which asks donors to “support Trump & feed the hungry” has collected nearly $192,000 in donations as of Tuesday, blowing past its $10,000 goal. Harper, 27, launched the campaign on July 12.
“We expect to begin purchasing as soon as possible, and will have video and pictures of the process so everyone can see the results!” he wrote on the donation page. “Our purchase will focus on rice, beans and canned goods. Also, because of the added volume, donations beyond the $150K mark will go to pantries beyond the Washington DC area.”
Goya Foods, founded in 1936, pegs itself as the “largest Hispanic-owned food company” in the U.S., according to its website.
A movement to #BoycottGoya emerged on social media last week after CEO after Robert Unanue praised Trump during a White House event this month, McClatchy News reported. Unanue lauded the president as an “incredible builder” and said the nation is “truly blessed” to have him as a leader.
Unanue has refused to apologize for his remarks, which sparked further backlash. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and celebrities including George Takei, Chrissy Teigen and Lin-Manuel Miranda were among those who vowed to protest the New Jersey-based company.
We learned to bake bread in this pandemic, we can learn to make our own adobo con pimienta. Bye. https://t.co/qKHNYfkqCq
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 10, 2020
Trump has previously faced criticism for making racist and xenophobic remarks against Latinos. Upon announcing his candidacy in 2015, the then-reality TV star referred to Mexican immigrants as “rapists.”
“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” Trump said at the time, adding: “It’s coming from more than Mexico. It’s coming from all over South and Latin America.”
Despite the furor, Harper told FOX Business he isn’t surprised at the success of his crowdsourcing campaign.
“People are seeing in the news a double standard for one political view,” he told the outlet. “Americans are fundamentally generous people. I’m not surprised we’ve raised so much because people are tired of having to walk on eggshells in political discourse.”
“In a time where speaking your mind can cost you your job, or get you facing legal action because the corporate elite fear the mob just as much as anyone, the most important issue is to speak boldly at the risk of your own well-being,” Harper added, according to FOX Business.
In an update, Harper said he plans to meet with Goya executives in the coming days.
McClatchy News reached out to Goya Foods for comment and is awaiting a response.
