Woke activists are calling for a boycott of a beloved San Diego-born taco chain over its CEO’s assist of President Trump.
Roberto’s Taco Store — which has places 80 places throughout California, Nevada and Texas — got here below hearth after a TikTok consumer accused CEO Reynaldo Robledo of supporting the MAGA motion.
The video, posted by a consumer who says she exposes “Latino MAGA companies,” factors to social media exercise from accounts in Robledo’s identify, together with Fb posts.
The clip shortly gained tons of traction, pulling in practically 80,000 views and sparking lots of of feedback. The missive could have led to a Fb web page tied to Robledo being wiped, based on SFGate.
“Did this CEO overlook that every one of his eating places are based mostly on Mexican dishes, who wouldn’t have made it right here with out the immigrants which can be at the moment being affected by the present administration that you’re supporting?” the consumer asks.
In 2020, Robledo attended a “Latinos for Trump” roundtable and praised the president.
“We love the work you’re doing. We love what you’ve performed for us,” he informed Trump, including it was their third assembly.
Robledo’s dad and mom opened the unique Roberto’s Taco Store in San Diego in 1964 after operating a tortilla manufacturing unit. It might develop into one of many area’s most recognizable taco chains, typically credited with creating the California burrito.
Whereas the model is deeply rooted within the Golden State, it has expanded to dozens of franchise places in Nevada, significantly in Las Vegas and Reno, in addition to in Texas.
Requires a boycott have unfold past TikTok.
A Fb group, A Robust Nevada, posted: “Do you know that Reynaldo Robledo, the CEO of Roberto’s Taco Store is a large MAGA supporter and helps ICE! Appears to be like such as you gained’t be getting our enterprise anymore!”
Amid the uproar, the corporate’s Nevada arm issued a press release on Instagram emphasizing that particular person franchise homeowners function independently.
“Roberto’s Taco Store is proud to be a Latino-owned and operated franchise that serves various communities throughout Nevada,” the assertion learn. “Whereas our CEO could maintain private political views, you will need to word that every of our 49 franchisees function their shops independently.”
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“The day-to-day operations and livelihoods of our 600 staff members mirror the onerous work, values, and cultural heritage of households, a lot of whom are Latino immigrants, who’re devoted to serving their native communities,” it added.
On-line reactions stay cut up.
“Noooooooooo not my drunk meals,” one TikTok consumer wrote, whereas one other mentioned, “Was going to strive the one shut by. Gained’t because of being enlightened. Will proceed to assist my small native spot. Thanks.”
Others urged restraint, pointing to the franchise mannequin.
“It’s a franchise. You’re spreading misinformation. I’ve a buddy whose household invested on this franchise that don’t have these beliefs. Simply because the CEO has sure ideas, it shouldn’t have an effect on the household who invested within the franchise,” one commenter wrote.
And never all of the responses had been unfavorable. “I knew there was a motive why I like Roberto’s,” one Fb consumer posted.
The corporate didn’t reply to The California Submit’s request for remark earlier than publication.
