25 Apr 2012 In Light of Coca-Cola’s Surrender Over ALEC, Shareholder Activist to Tell Coca-Cola Executives to Stand Firm Against Future Radical Left Demands

Coca-Cola’s Capitulation to Tiny Pressure Group Means the Company Just Put a Giant “Kick Me” Sign on its Back

Atlanta, GA / Washington, D.C. – At today’s shareholder meeting, National Center for Public Policy Research Executive Director David W. Almasi intends to ask Coca-Cola Company executives to explain why they caved in to the tiny radical activist group Color of Change when the latter group asked it to stop working with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) because ALEC, like 70 percent of the American people, supports ballot integrity measures.

Coca-Cola had been working with ALEC in opposition to new taxes targeted on the soft drink industry, which were intended to force soft drink manufacturers to raise prices on consumers.

Almasi also intends to warn Coca-Cola that, by caving in easily to a minor online petition drive, it has put a giant target on its back.

“When it quickly gave in to the demands of leftist radicals, Coca-Cola effectively put a giant ‘kick me’ sign on its back,” said Almasi. “It’s a safe bet that Color of Change and a Pandora’s Box of other radical groups now consider themselves in the driver’s seat, and they’re going to see just how far they can push Coca-Cola toward their views. If Coca-Cola’s executives are smart, they’ll put the brakes on it right now.”

“Coca-Cola’s past support for ALEC was ‘to oppose discriminatory food and beverage taxes,'” said Almasi, “but the company bowed to Color of Change’s demand to sever ties over ALEC’s educational work regarding ballot protection legislation. That’s an ‘apples and oranges’ demand, and Coca-Cola’s capitulation will only embolden leftists, who are sure to make further demands. Where do company executives plan to draw the line?”

“What is Coca-Cola going to have to concede to placate the radical sharks who now smell blood in the water? What further professional relationships will be ended and how might consumers and shareholders be impacted?” Almasi continued. “The Coca-Cola board needs to realize the company is now a target, and it needs to stand firm.”

Coca-Cola’s shareholder meeting is being held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on April 25 at 9:30 AM eastern. Almasi and the National Center for Public Policy Research are both Coca-Cola shareholders.

Mr. Almasi’s question, as planned for delivery, is available online at https://nationalcenter.org/CokeQuestion042512.pdf.

The National Center for Public Policy Research is a conservative, free-market, non-profit think-tank established in 1982. It is supported by the voluntary gifts of over 100,000 individual recent supporters, receiving approximately one percent of its revenue from corporate sources. Contributions to it are tax-deductible.

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