Coke responds to ALEC boycott. Will Walmart follow?

Posted on April 11, 2012 by

Walmart continues to be criticized for the company’s membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative policy group funded by dozens of major corporations. The group, which has mostly flown beneath the radar, has been attracting an increasing amount of negative attention. In particular, ALEC has been under scrutiny for the organization’s role in pushing two hot button issues related to voting rights and gun control.

First, ALEC has been aggressively pushing legislation that would require voters to present photo identification at the polls. The stated purpose of the law is to prevent voter fraud, but critics say that it will unfairly target seniors, low-income individuals, students, and people of color. As a result, several civil rights groups are calling for a boycott of companies that support ALEC.

Second, ALEC has been a long-time supporter of so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws, which allow the use of deadly force if an individual feels threatened. The Florida version of the legislation is a major issue in the Trayvon Martin case, since his alleged shooter may be able to avoid prosecution because of the law.

It appears that the pressure is having an impact. Last week, several companies announced that they would be withdrawing from ALEC—including some very high profile brands:

On Wednesday, Coke announced they would no longer renew their membership in ALEC, the more conservative leaning legislative group.

“The Coca-Cola Company has elected to discontinue its membership with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC),” company spokeswoman Diana Garaz Ciariante said in a written statement. “Our involvement with ALEC was focused on efforts to oppose discriminatory food and beverage taxes, not on issues that have no direct bearing on our business.”

Will Walmart follow suit? That’s the question many are asking, including civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson who recently called out Walmart on national television. Stay tuned.

Comments

  • Anonymous

    ALEC, the new liberal boogyman. Pepsi Cola hits the spot.

  • Anonymous

    it is time for Walmart Change into United Food and Commercial Worker Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Cashier Workers and for all Walmart Produce Workers and for all Walmart Bakery Department Workers. and it is time for Walmart Change into Teamster Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Truck Drivers Workers and for all Walmart Hardware Department Workers and for all Walmart Gardening Department Workers and for all Walmart Maintenance Association Workers and for all Walmart Stock Person Workers and for all Walmart Customer Service Desk Workers and for all Walmart Courtesy Association Workers and for all Sam’s Club Truck Drivers Workers and for all Sam’s Club Forklift Drivers@Stock Person Workers and for all Walmart Maintenance Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cashier Workers and for all Sam’s Club Meat Cutter@Meat Wrapper Workers and for all Sam’s Club Produce Workers and for all Sam’s Club Bakery Department Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cafe Workers and for all Sam’s Club Membership Desk Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cart Attendant Workers. and it is tome for Walmart Change into United Healthcare Workers Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Pharmacy Workers and for all Sam’s Club Pharmacy Workers.and it is time for Walmart Change into Communications Workers of America Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Electronics Workers and for all Sam’s Club Electronics Workers.and it is time for Walmart Change into United Auto Workers Unionize Walmart Store for all Walmart Tire@Lube Express Workers and for all Sam’s Club Tire@Car Battery Installment Workers right of away and right now please. by make Walmart give all Walmart Workers and all Sam’s Club Workers a Living Wage With Affordable Health Care right of away and right now please without close down all the Walmart Store and without close down all the Sam’s Wholesale Club.

    Thank You Very Much United Food And Commercial Workers Union And Teamster Union And OUR Walmart And Making Change At Walmart And Walmart Watch And Employee Free Choice Act For Trying Make Walmart A Better Place To Work For All Walmart Workers And For Sam’s Club Workers From Tom P Noonan

  • Anonymous

    ALEC is one of the organizations the Koch brothers have there fingers in.

    Boycott Koch brother products:
    Georgia-Pacific’s – Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Sparkle® , Soft ‘n Gentle®, Mardi Gras®, Vanity Fair®, STAINMASTER® carpet, ANTRON® carpet fiber, CORDURA® fabric, and COMFOREL® fiberfill. POLYSHIELD® resin, POLYCLEAR® resin, OXYCLEAR™ resin, PERFORMA® film and sheet, and POLARGUARD® 

    • Anonymous

      “”"”ALEC is one of the organizations the Koch brothers have there fingers in”"”"

      Did you mean to say THEIR fingers?. Maybe the union boycott will have as much affect as the union’s on Wal-Mart. They now have over 4200 stores. When the boycott started, they had less than 1,000. Great Success?

      • Anonymous

        It is wise to keep in mind that no success or failure is necessarily final.  ~Author Unknown 

        http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/16/us-walmart-proxy-idUSBRE83F0O220120416?feedType=RSS

      • Anonymous

         Many retail stores have gone under with Best Buy being the latest. Wal-Mart has done well to maintain it’s position. Many workers would love to take a 5% loss and maintain their job.  It almost makes one think that this Obama recession is the longest recession in the last 6 decades. Don’t worry, help is on the way. The concept of borrowing 40 cents of every dollar you spend has proven not to work. We have to cut spending and use our god given natural resources. After November, the pendulum starts to swing back.

  • Anonymous

    A TV station in Lee County, Florida uncover 97 illegals that had voted in the recent election. They used being non citizens as an excuse for jury duty which are taken from the voter roles. It is no wonder that 32 states and growing have passed the photo voter ID card. The only reason to be against these new laws is because you like the results of the illegal votes who tend to vote heavily democratic. Stiff penalties are required. The ACORN and union activists will be in the slammer if they are caught cheating, You will remember ACORN registering the entire Dallas Cowboy football squad in NV. Still hard to believe the unions want this illegal cheating to continue.