| Among the dozens of different groups that have | | | | they hold dear. Among the more prominent |
| sprouted over the years clamoring for various | | | | boycotts that the group has undertaken are |
| family-related issues, the American Family | | | | those against fashion company Abercrombie & |
| Foundation (AFA) has to be one of the most | | | | Fitch (on the grounds that it uses "softcore |
| highly-visible and controversial of the lot. The | | | | pornography in company catalogs"), film distributor |
| groups has come a long way since being | | | | Movie Gallery (which it refers to as a "distributor |
| established as a wholly conservative, Christian | | | | of pornographic videos"), convenience store chain |
| non-profit organization in 1977 by Rev. Donald | | | | Kmart (for its role in the "Sale of adult-rated |
| Wildmon. At that time, the group was known as | | | | music CDs") and athletic brand Nike (for |
| the National Federation for Decency and it was | | | | "promoting a back door move to legalize |
| based in Tupelo, Mississippi. | | | | homosexual marriage"). |
| One of the areas where the AFA is visible is | | | | Its track record of activism also includes major |
| through the articles that it publishes regularly | | | | boycotts against popular TV shows, movies and |
| promoting traditional nuclear family values and the | | | | businesses that it perceived to be promoting |
| main tenets of Christianity. The group is known | | | | indecency. They have also set out on crusades |
| for its strong support for Christian missionaries | | | | against some well known and highly regarded |
| and its intense hatred and opposition against | | | | consumer brands such as Crest, Volkswagen, |
| abortion, homosexuality and pornography. They | | | | Tide, Clorox, Pampers, MTV, Burger King, the |
| are also known for their role in promoting "clean | | | | Carl's Jr., Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old |
| entertainment" and for preaching the values of | | | | Navy, NutriSystem, and American Airlines. |
| thrift and railing against excessive debt. | | | | There is no cause that is too small for the AFA. |
| As an activist group, the AFA is one of the | | | | In fact, in 2004, the AFA launched an attack |
| best-organized in the country, especially when it | | | | against the cartoon film Shark Tale on the |
| comes to launching boycotts and letter writing | | | | grounds that the animated flick was brainwashing |
| campaigns that promote traditional values that | | | | children into accepting gay rights. |