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Chairman, Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer
The Coca-Cola Company
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
Dear Mr. Daft:
This letter and the attached petition
signatures is being sent to Coke to express our great concern over
recent actions of Coke. In fact, the signers of these petitions feel
so strongly about this issue that they have made a commitment to
discontinue the use of any Coke products.
As you are aware, Coke was invented by a
Confederate veteran. Historically Coke relied upon the Proud
Heritage of Southerners to increase the sales of Coke products. As a
result. Coke became the beverage of choice and one which untold
thousands were proud of.
It is with great shock and dismay that an
increasing number of your customers are discovering that Coke has
inexplicably changed. Coke has not only abandoned its roots, but is
now using our money to discriminate against Southern Heritage.
Efforts to discuss this issue with your
designated representatives have failed. For example, questioning
the involvement of Coke in the Georgia Business PAC resulted in
responses that were basically a denial of documented facts (the
Georgia Business PAC records are open public records in Georgia).
Even the changing of the information on your flagship product, Coke,
from "Confederate veteran" to "civil war veteran" was denied when it
is obvious to all on your web site.
In summary, we have sadly drawn the conclusion
that Coke is now using our money derived from purchase of your
products to further a political agenda that we find abhorrent. We
have also concluded that efforts to communicate with Coke through
your established representatives will only result in further
insulting replies, so this matter is being brought to the attention
of the Board of Directors.
It is our opinion that neither your customers,
nor your stockholders should be subjected to this abuse of corporate
funds. In fact the responsibility for proper use of corporate funds
does fall with the Board of Directors and the officers of the
Corporation.
The attached former customers, and those who
join this effort will simply discontinue the use of your products,
continue to spread the word, and be sure that your stockholders are
aware until a successful resolution is reached. A successful
resolution must include the following:
- Ending discrimination against Southern
Heritage. Coke should provide equal funding for Southern
Heritage community events as you do for any other heritage. This
should be done in each State which has recognized
Southern Holidays by tradition or statute.
- An analysis of your political contributions over recent
years and an equitable sum to achieve parity is
arranged.
- Then, cease and desist any use of corporate
funds for political purposes not associated with actual beverage
issues.
Should you desire to discuss the above in good
faith we
can be contacted at 706-374-2640.
For now, we remain your former
customers.
Sincerely,
Mike Crane
725 Ridgeview Road
Morganton, Georgia, 30560
Encl: Verified electronic petition signatures (The
Coca-Cola Company Should Get Out of Politics
petition, online at:
http://www.spofga.org/petition/petition.phtml?PetitionID=4)
Cc: Board of Directors (each member)
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facilities. The distribution of Boycott Coke yard signs has already
started and the initial targets are being picked. This is practice for
their annual stockholders meeting.