Le Mars, Iowa — The League of United Latino Citizens is launching a national boycott of Wells Blue Bunny products because at least four members of the family that own the Wells dairy in Le Mars have financially supported Congressman Steve King. Joe Enriquez Henry of Des Moines is a national vice president of LULAC — the League of United Latino Citizens. Henry says King has sown “hate and fear” about Latinos with a string of statements, the most recent about how western civilization cannot be restored with “other people’s babies.”
Henry says in the past six years, Wells family members have given Congressman King more than 34-thousand dollars in campaign donations and it’s time for the family to quit backing King.
In March, after the LULAC councils in IOWA announced a statewide boycott, Wells Dairy officials issued a statement, saying King’s recent comments “do not align with the values of our company.” But the company’s statement said everyone “has a right…as a private citizen” to make political contributions and what Wells employees “support personally is in no way an endorsement” of King by the Blue Bunny brand or the company. LULAC (LOO-lack) is calling on grocery stores across the country to remove Wells Blue Bunny ice cream and other products from the Le Mars business until the family that owns the company rebukes King.
Governor Terry Branstad, a Republican who has also received donations from the Wells family, has denounced King’s comments, including King’s prediction of a “looming race war between blacks and Hispanics.” But Branstad says a boycott “isn’t fair.”
Branstad calls Wells Enterprises “a great Iowa company.”
According to the company’s website, Wells Enterprises makes 150 million gallons of ice cream each year. It is sold under “Blue Bunny” name as well as other brands like “Weight Watchers” frozen treats. Mike Wells, the company’s president and C-E-O, is currently chair of the International Ice Cream Association.
