On Saturday, November 13, 2010, demonstrators protested outside of the Cutler Bay/Goulds Publix Supermarket on US 1 and Allapattah as the EEOC investigates another allegation of racial and gender discrimination. Currently, Publix has no female African-American store Managers in the state of Florida. Publix operates over 1,300 stores in five states and there is a disproportionate number of minorities in management.

Publix operates over 1,000 stores across five states and employs over 139,000 employees. Allegations of bias at Publix surfaced in 1995 when the grocery chain paid $3.5-million to settle racial discrimination claims filed by the EEOC on behalf of all black store employees. That year the grocery chain also paid $81.5-million to settle a sexual discrimination case on behalf of women employees. In a December 2000 settlement, Publix agreed to pay $10-million and use an outside mediator to referee disputed racial discrimination claims for seven years. In settling the suit, Publix admitted no wrongdoing.

Publix continues to covertly discriminate against minorities by placing them in low volume stores and passing them over for promotions that they are clearly and equally qualified for but are denied with no valid reason. These discriminatory actions affect the bonuses and earning potential of these minorities and in turn pays them less than their counterparts.

Publix corporate management refuses to comment on this situation because of the ongoing the EEOC investigation. Employment discrimination attorney Ena Diaz has been retained to represent the plaintiffs.