Baton Rouge Rep. Ted James calls for boycott of Rouses

Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and Baton Rouge Representative Ted James calls for a boycott of Rouses after a photograph of co-owner Donald Rouse Sr. attending the pro-Trump Rally in DC Wednesday circulated. Rouse issued a statement saying he attended to support Trump but condemns the violence. James questions why Rouse only condemns violence at the Capitol.

“I can take him at his word, it doesn’t mean much to me that he would still go out there to support this President and he’s condemning the violence the other day but hadn’t condemned the violence and all of the folks that were assaulted in Virginia,” said James.

James, who said he was a regular patron at Rouses will still no longer shop at the grocer because of the owner’s perceived support to overthrow the election process.

“It wasn’t just the violence that erupted, the being there, in general, to actually call for the Congress not to certify the vote of the people that’s problematic,” said James.

Rouse Sr’s statement also noted that the country needs to come together and heal. James agrees and that the violence we saw unfold Wednesday is a turning point.

“I think this moment is going to be one of those moments that we’re going to turn the corner, now you’re going to have folks on the far end of both sides, but I think this is the moment that’s going to push it. If it doesn’t shame on all of us,” said James.

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.