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Amid Controversy, Coke Drops Ties to Policy Organization ALEC

April 6th, 2012

Coca-Cola no longer wants membership with the American Legislative Exchange Council, a policy organization accused of pushing controversial legislation. But opinions differ about why the Atlanta-based company severed ties with the group.

Companies usually sponsor the organization, also known as ALEC, in their own interest. In Coke’s case, ALEC helped combat policies that would tax certain foods and beverages.

Diana Garza Ciarlante is a spokesperson for the company.

“But the reality is that the Coca-Cola Company did elect to discontinue its membership with ALEC,” she says. “Our involvement has always been focused on efforts that are specific to our industry.”

Efforts that are potentially overshadowed by ALEC’s backing of controversial voter ID legislation, and most recently, “Stand Your Ground” gun laws.

Rashad Robinson is executive director of ColorOfChange.org, a political group with a focus on the black community. His organization has accused ALEC of promoting discriminatory voter ID laws.

“And for companies like Coca-Cola or Pepsi or some of the other companies associated with ALEC, we had a simple and clear message to them: You can’t come for black folks money by day and try to suppress our vote by night,” he says.

Robinson says ColorOfChange reached out to Coke last year, but with no response. This week, the group got its members to contact Coke about the issue – a move he thinks influenced the soda giant’s decision.

ALEC did not respond to WABE by deadline.