School Shooting Survivor Calls For 'Die-In' Protest At Publix Supermarkets
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PARKLAND (CBSMiami) -- Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor turned student activist David Hogg is calling for a "die-in" at Publix Super Markets on Friday to protest the chains political donations to a pro-gun Republican gubernatorial candidate.
.@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
On Thursday, Hogg received vile insults from at least three cars, as they drove by, as he was being interviewed in front of a Publix in the Parkland area.
Followed everywhere by a documentary film crew. The pressure cooker for David Hogg is just about to hit high heat. He wants to take down Publix supermarkets.
Are you in favor of the demise of Publix over this? asked CBS4 reporter Hank Tester.
David says: "Yes, absolutely."
Hogg called Publix an #NRASellOut on his Twitter feed Wednesday.
Hogg wants his Twitter followers, and there are 800,000 of them, to "die-in" at Publix stores, which means lie on the ground inside the supermarkets for 12 minutes at 4pm Friday.
Hogg is critical of the Lakeland-based chain due to its donations to Adam Putnam. The supermarket has donated $670,000 in the past three years.. The former U.S. representative recently described himself as a proud National Rifle Association supporter and he has a top rating from the group.
Hogg also wants people to boycott the popular supermarket until the company publicly pulls their endorsement of Putnam.
Anyone who supports an NRA sellout is an NRA sellout. That is why I am calling on everyone to stop shopping at Publix until they pull their endorsement of Putnam publicly. Publix is supporting the inaction after pulse, Strozier, Douglas, liberty city. Don't support an NRA sellout
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 23, 2018
Publix released a statement May 17, urging the company's neutral political stance.
"We support bi-partisan, business-friendly candidates, regardless of political affiliation and we remain neutral on issues outside of our core business," the statement read.
Hogg says, "They gave him a half million dollars for his campaign an a-rated politician by the NRA. He is against LBGT rights. Why? Why? Why don't they stand with us." referring to Publix.
Hogg says he will call off the whole anti-Publix campaign right now if Publix would double the Putnam money and give it to the Stoneman Douglas victim's fund. "And announce that they would never, ever support an a-rated politician by the NRA again," he added.
It is not known whether protesters will be forced to leave, or be arrested, if they lie down inside Publix stores.
A Publix statement also read, "We regret that some of our political contributions have led to an unintentional customer divide instead of our desire to support a growing economy in Florida. As a result of this situation, we are evaluating our processes to ensure that our giving better reflects our intended desire to support a strong economy and a healthy community."