At Publix, we respect the students and members of the community who have chosen to express their voices on these issues. We regret our contributions have led to a divide in our community. We did not intend to put our associates and the customers they serve in the middle of a political debate. At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining a welcoming shopping environment for our customers.

We would never knowingly disappoint our customers or the communities we serve. As a result, we decided earlier last week to suspend corporate-funded political contributions as we re-evaluate our giving processes.