Imagine this. You are leaving a show, dripping in sweat, ears-ringing, feet sore as hell, and you stumble across the holy grail of fast food, a Taco Bell. You rush in, pick up the usual cheesy gordita crunch and refreshing Baja Blast, and it’s the perfect end to a great night. What you may not know is that purchase may have just fed into supporting the systemic racism and injustice currently at the forefront of the media. But, I just bought a taco, how could this be? Let me explain. 

A recent report from Business Insider has revealed a portion of our late night indulgent purchases could be going towards supporting the Trump re-election campaign. James Bodenstedt is the CEO of Muy! Companies and a major franchise owner for various Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Pizza Hut locations throughout the United States. Contributing roughly $440,000, these reports sparked widespread outrage across social media, inspiring the “#WendysIsOverParty” hashtag to trend in both the US and Canada. 

Currently, the Muy! Companies’ website appears to be under maintenance - perhaps from people flooding the site looking for information on which restaurant locations to boycott - there are ways to access this information using the web archive. We know he owns around 800 locations, across several states, including Texas, Minnesota, Florida, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and more. Be sure to review the full list via web archive to see if your favorite location is amongst the list. 

While this may seem like an isolated circumstance, it plays into the larger topic of ethical consumerism. It is on the shoulders of the consumer to decide which companies they would like to support, and the implications of that support. With regards to the mentioned topic of James Bodenstedt, one must be aware that the purchases at any of his locations are contributing to his wealth and success, which are in turn going to support Trump’s platform and what he stands for. With the current media coverage, it should come as no surprise that supporting Trump’s platform is in itself keeping a system in place that promotes systemic racism and injustice. 

For those who think this topic is outside the realm of the “scene”, I strongly disagree. Punk and hardcore music was founded on societal reform, lashing out against the music industry that tried to keep their voices silent. Politically-charged in nature, the music of the “scene” has always tried to provide a voice to those who have not been heard, standing up against injustice. Sorry to break it to you, if you’re a fan of the music, you support the movement. 

Outside of where to spend your food-allocated funds, ethical consumerism is a mindset that should be applied to all aspects of our lives. Whether it’s standing up to Amazon for their brand of mass-production and mistreatment of essential employees or simply blocking bands that actively stand against your individual beliefs - I’m looking at you Trapt - we as members of the scene have a voice and a choice to make. To emphasize my earlier point about inadvertently supporting Trump’s re-election campaign, and in turn the values that come along with his platform, similar connections can be drawn within the music industry. Even if you disagree with the views put forth by Trapt during the recent Twitter rampage, if you then actively listen to their music - as “Headstrong” was a common staple on various playlists - you are feeding into their success, giving them a platform to spread negativity and hate. We need to ask ourselves, what message are we sending to younger generations? Without repercussions, we are perpetuating the message that anyone can get away with it, if they have the platform to do so. 

Ignorance is often bliss with regards to many of these topics, but it is time for that to change. Make yourself aware of how your actions are influencing the world around you and modify those actions to promote the change you want to see. 

If you’re looking for a resource to aid in your transition toward ethical consumerism awareness, I recommend installing the ‘Buycott’ app. With ‘Buycott’ you can decide which campaigns you would like to align yourself with - surrounding topics such as civil rights, criminal justice, human rights, LGBTQ rights, and so many more - and get important information about which products support or oppose those campaigns. You can actively decide to purchase, or not purchase, a given product, and communicate that decision to the company. Aside from installing the app, a simple Google search can reveal a lot about a company's values, allowing you to make an informed decision on whether you would like to support that company or not. Information is the greatest tool one can possess, and these are simple ways you can become more informed.

As I sit here putting the finishing touches on this article, I am listening to the powerful Strength In Numb333rs album by the ever-vocal Fever 333 and I am blown away by the relevance to the current situation in the US, and around the world for that matter. I would like to highlight some lyrics from “The Innocent”: 

“No more excuses / We must refuse this / Silence is useless / Long live the innocent”

While these lyrics have obvious implications for the Black Lives Matter movement, the lessons within can be applied elsewhere. The time for excuses has passed, we must take a stance against all injustices of the world. Silence is complacency, so make your voice heard. If these lyrics resonate with you whatsoever, internalize them and embody their meaning.

For more information about the current Black Lives Matter movement, I implore you to read an article we recently shared. We have highlighted several bands and other scene organizations making a contribution to the movement, along with providing useful links for how one can get involved. Together, we can and will make a real change.