Dupage Policy Journal

A former trustee for the Village of Winfield is speaking out against a boycott campaign that is targeting conservative-leaning businesses. Angel Oakley, who was also an independent candidate for Illinois' 3rd Congressional District in 2024, has called the boycott an example of "punitive and exclusionary" tactics that harm small businesses.

“In free-market capitalism, consumers vote with their dollars,” Oakley told the DuPage Policy Journal. “If a consumer finds one business aligns better with their values than another they should spend their money accordingly. Shopping apps like Public Square cater to values-based shopping taking a positive and inclusive approach rather than the boycotting method which is punitive and exclusionary, like the list Geneva Alderman Martha Paschke had assembled.” 

The boycott, led by Geneva Alderman Martha Paschke and political operative Paula Merrington, was organized through a Facebook group called Fox Valley Activists, and targeted local businesses that support conservative causes or figures like Donald Trump.

The campaign included a spreadsheet listing local businesses deemed “problematic” for their political affiliations, such as displaying Trump signs or hosting GOP events. 

Oakley, founder and chief consultant at Unicatis, a firm specializing in strategic planning and marketing for socially responsible companies, has also held leadership roles in corporate marketing at Monitor Liability Managers.

She is especially concerned about retaliatory tactics—such as negative reviews and other forms of economic sabotage—that businesses face for their political views.

"Boycotting a business is a non-violent type of protest protected by the First Amendment," Oakley explained. "Defamation, however, is not protected. When individuals resort to retaliatory and defamatory actions against a business based on political affiliation or expressions of free speech, businesses should be allowed a redress of their grievances.”

Oakley cited the backlash faced by Movable Feast, a restaurant in downtown Wheaton, which displayed signs supporting both its Christian faith and Trump after the 2020 election. The signs read “Jesus is my Savior” on one side and “Trump is my President” on the other, along with two "Make America Healthy Again" signs.

Afterward, some local Democratic groups criticized the restaurant’s political statements and called for a boycott. In retaliation, many left 1-star reviews on platforms like Facebook, Yelp, and Google, disparaging the restaurant’s food, staff, and service. Some also sent threatening messages and made reservations they never honored.

While conservatives rallied to support Movable Feast, Oakley expressed concern over the growing trend of social and economic retaliation for political expression.

"On the flip side, individuals in Republican groups were expressing support for Movable Feast and their right to free speech," Oakley said. "Members of these groups began rallying their friends to go out to eat at Movable Feast, and lines were out the door. Positive reviews had outshined the negative."

Oakley also addressed the double standard in political discourse.

“Democrats, including Delia Ramirez, have referenced MAGA voters as worshipping their ‘Orange Jesus,’” she said. “It’s important to note that the Movable Feast owners worship Jesus as their Savior and acknowledge Trump as their President. Some Democrats posted that businesses shouldn’t express political positions, yet when Jeff Bezos abstained from making a political endorsement, 200,000 Democrats began dropping Washington Post and Amazon subscriptions as a boycott for a lack of partisanship.”

Oakley came in third place in the 2024 Illinois' 3rd Congressional District election, behind Ramirez, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger John Booras.