National organization boycotting Wells Blue Bunny because of monetary ties to King

Rep.+Steve+King+speaking+at+the+Faith+and+Freedom+Dinner+on+Sept.+19.

Rep. Steve King speaking at the Faith and Freedom Dinner on Sept. 19.

Alex Connor

Based off monetary contributions to Iowa Rep. Steve King, a national Hispanic organization is calling on all grocery stores to stop selling Wells Blue Bunny products.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), in a press release Wednesday, cited nearly $34,500 in contributions to King from the Wells family.

In 2016, nearly $11,000 was contributed to King from Wells Enterprises, Inc. President and CEO Michael Wells, along with additional donations from other Wells family members.

“LULAC condemns Congressman King’s recent racists remarks saying, ‘civilizations can’t be restored with somebody else’s babies’ and predictions of a ‘looming race war between blacks and Hispanics,'” the release stated.

In early March, King faced backlash after he tweeted, “Wilders [a right-wing prime minister candidate] understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.”

Several top Iowa leaders condemned King for his remarks, including Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who said during one of his weekly news conferences, “I disagree with what Steve King had to say.

“We all know that … from time to time, he just says things that we just don’t agree with, and we have always been honest about that. We have worked with him on a lot of things, and some of the things we just think are wrong and we disagree with it.”

A petition was started almost immediately after King’s remarks in March by a woman from Boone, Iowa, asking that top companies such as Wells Blue Bunny, AT&T, American Podiatric Association, College Loan Corp and the American Bankers Association stop funding King.

The petition currently has 1,842 supporters. 

On the LULAC boycott, the organization is asking that in addition to ceasing sales on Blue Bunny products, grocery stores also remove the product form their shelves. 

“We are going to boycott Wells Blue Bunny until the President Michael Wells and his family decide not to support Congressman Steve King and his hateful rhetoric,” Joe Enriquez Henry, LULAC national vice president in the Midwest region, said. 

King is currently the U.S. representative for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District – a position he has held since 2013. He previously held the same role in office for Iowa’s 5th Congressional District since 2003.