Malliotakis organizes Goya food drive following boycott calls

Goya

FILE - In this April 29, 2015, file photo, people walk past displays of Goya Foods products at the new corporate headquarters in Jersey City, N.J. Goya Foods is facing a a swift backlash after its CEO Robert Unanue praised President Donald Trump at White House event on Thursday, July 9, 2020. Almost immediately, Twitter exploded, with users both famous and not reminding Unanue of Trump's history of derogatory comments and harsh policies toward Hispanics, most notably, the administration's policy of separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) AP

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NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) is organizing a Goya food drive for Staten Island and South Brooklyn food pantries following calls to boycott the Latino food company after its CEO Robert Unanue praised President Donald Trump.

Unanue came under fire after he said the country was “truly blessed” to have a leader like Trump when he appeared alongside the president during a White House visit.

The Island’s GOP congressional candidate also took aim at New York City Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who spoke out against Unanue in a tweet suggesting her support for a boycott of the company.

The hashtag #Goyaway began trending on social media after Unanue’s remarks. Unanue called the boycott a “suppression of speech” and pointed out he had also been invited to the White House by former President Barack Obama during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s attempt to launch a boycott is symptomatic of the radical left’s attempts to bully and intimidate those who hold opposing views. The fact that her actions are aimed at an 84-year-old Hispanic family-owned business over political differences is shameful,” Malliotakis said. “Attempts to silence opposing views are a trademark of AOC’s brand of socialism and are one of the reasons my mother fled Communist Cuba.”

“On Friday night, I made Goya frijoles in honor of my mother, abuela (grandmother) and freedom loving Americans. Today, I am announcing my Goya canned food drive in the same spirit as Goya Foods, which has generously donated millions of pounds of food to people in our nation and around the world,” Malliotakis continued.

Ocasio-Cortez’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Goya Foods is a leading Latino food producer and describes itself as the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the country.

Goya food donations can be sent to Malliotakis’ campaign headquarters at 2300 Richmond Road, Staten Island NY 10306 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Malliotakis and volunteers will then deliver food to local pantries.

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