The NAACP – New Orleans Branch condemns Donald Rouse Sr., co-owner of Rouses Supermarket and other Rouses Executives for their support and/or participation in the “Stop the Steal” and the Inspired Attempted Insurrection, Coup and Siege on the United States Capitol organized and encouraged by President Donald J. Trump that was held in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.
The NAACP, New Orleans Branch demands that Rouses be more supportive of the will of the citizens of this country as expressed by the incredible participation of registered voters in the November 2020 Presidential Election and they not support efforts that would disenfranchise voters across this country by throwing out certain certified votes and stopping Congress from counting the electoral college votes.
Donald Rouse Sr., and Steve Galtier chose to travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the “Stop the Steal” rally. The supporters, protesters, rioters, and insurgents were encouraged with outright lies, fraudulent claims and unproven allegations to rise and stop the United States Congress from counting the electoral college votes. The NAACP, New Orleans Branch is not surprised that the “Stop the Steal” rally resulted in violence. The charge to invoke violence and march to the United State Capitol was made by President Donald J. Trump while he spoke at the “Stop the Steal” rally. The rally was based on a lie that has been rejected by the United States Supreme Court and courts of many States – the election was not stolen, and there was no widespread fraud. The rally that denies these facts and calls for “combat” and marching on the U. S. Capitol was an affront to the rule of law and resulted in the death of five people.
The NAACP has since 1909 worked to protect voters’ rights and to encourage voter participation. We have fought in the courts and opposed efforts that would disenfranchise voters across this nation. We have stood against voter discrimination and fighting attempts to make it more difficult for people to vote. In 2021, we stand with the voters of this nation who voted in large numbers and enthusiastically participated in the electoral process.
The Presidential Election is over, and Joe Biden is the President – Elect, with Kamala Harris the Vice President – Elect. Over 155 million United States voters cast their ballots on November 3, 2020, with Joe Biden receiving 81 million and Donald Trump, 74 million. Any attempt to overturn the will of the people is an affront to democracy and the principles on which this republic is based.
Rouses has benefitted greatly from the goodwill of the citizens of the City of New Orleans and this nation. With that success comes a responsibility to support the rights of the people to have their votes and electoral participation respected and treated with complete reverence. The New Orleans Branch of the NAACP is both disappointed and displeased with Rouses and calls on the leadership of the company to always stand with the citizens of this nation against attempts to suppress, disenfranchise, or nullify the will of citizens as was the intent of last week’s attempted insurrection, coup, and siege on the United States Capitol.
Ronald Coleman is the New Orleans Branch President
