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Donald Rouse Sr., retired CEO and co-owner of Rouses Markets, talked to a New Orleans radio show on Friday to apologize for attending former President Donald Trump’s rally in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6.
“I love our team members, and I’m very sorry for the hardship I’ve caused them,” Rouse Sr. told WBOK-AM. “I’ll do anything and everything I can to improve conditions for them and just be a better person for everybody… So, it’s really a sad day for my bad judgment.”
The rally named “Stop the Steal” — a slogan is based on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election — later turned violent at the U.S. Capitol. More than 125 people have been arrested so far in connection with what authorities are calling an insurrection, according to reports. The riot resulted in five deaths.
He stayed for about three-quarters of Trump’s speech before going back to his hotel room, Rouse Sr. said, and he was gone before the chaos started.
“Had I realized what I was going to be doing, I would not have gone,” he said. “I absolutely would take it back right now if I could.”
According to reports and photos from the riot, a noose was erected in front of the Capitol and some protesters were carrying Confederate flags. Both have been used as symbols or acts of aggression toward the African American community.
A WBOK-AM caller asked Rouse Sr. why he didn’t leave when he saw Confederate flags and symbols of white supremacy in the crowd.
“There was not a confederate flag anywhere I was. There was not anyone in hoods,” Rouse Sr. answered. “Absolutely I would’ve gotten out of there if I saw any of that behavior.”
Wendell Pierce, actor and co-owner of WBOK-AM, said Rouse Sr. should have denounced the violence at the Capitol sooner and asked the former CEO if he was complicit in what happened.
“Have I waited too long to speak? Probably so,” Rouse Sr. said. “But certain consultants advised me to let it cool down before I made a push and apologized.”
Rouse Sr. released a statement the day after the riot.
The Facebook post of Rouse Sr. at the rally sparked a significant amount of backlash, even encouraging some local residents to call for a boycott of Rouses Markets outside its east Houma location.
“I didn’t go over there [Washington D.C.] in support of Trump,” he said. “I went over there to hear him speak. I went over there …for history in the making, I guess I would say.”
Rouse Sr. stated that he didn’t even know what Insurrection was until recently. He also noted that he does not believe the election was stolen. “I believe Trump was wrong,” he said. ”…I’ll support Joe Biden for as long as he’s president.”
Jerome Boykin, Terrebonne Parish NAACP President, joined Rouse Sr. on the radio show to support him and note Rouse’s support for the Black community.
“When situations like this happen with anyone, the first thing you want to look at is the guy’s record,” Boykin said. “I want our listening audience to know that Mr. Rouse is a member of the NAACP for over 20 years. Mr. Rouse has been giving scholarships to African American kids in our community.”
According to the NAACP president, the grocery chain hires more African American employees and works with more African American vendors than other local stores.
“I just want the community to know who this guy truly is,” he said.
