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Some Georgia GOP lawmakers seek removal of Coke products amid election law backlash

Their letter asks the company to read the bill, and requests all Coke products be removed from their shared office suite.

ATLANTA — Some of Georgia’s GOP legislators are now seeking the removal of all Coca-Cola Company products from their office suite.

According to a letter sent to Coca-Cola by the ‘House Members of Suite 612 CLOB,’ it’s because of the company’s response to the passage of a controversial election law, SB 202.

"Your company has made the conscious decision to perpetuate a national dialogue which seeks to intentionally mislead the citizens of Georgia and deepen a divide in our great State,” says the letter.

It concludes by asking the company to read the bill, and requests all products be removed from their shared suite.

“Given Coke’s choice to cave to the pressure of an out of control cancel culture, we respectfully request all Coca-Cola company products be removed from our office suit immediately,” says the letter.

It’s signed by eight House members: Dewayne Hill (District 3), Matt Barton (District 5), Jason Ridley (District 6), Stan Gunter (District 8), Victor Anderson (District 10), Lauren McDonald III (District 26), Clint Crowe (District 110), and Marcus Wiedower (District 119).

Coca-Cola put out a statement before the removal request and shortly after the law was passed, which you can read in full below:

“We believe voting is a foundational right in American and access should be broad-based and inclusive. 

Throughout the legislative session, we have been active with the Metro Atlanta Chamber in expressing our concerns and advocating for positive change in voting legislation. We, along with our business coalition partners, sought improvements that would enhance accessibility, maximize voter participation, maintain election integrity, and serve all Georgians. 

We will continue to identify opportunities for engagement and strive for improvements aimed at promoting and protecting the right to vote in our home state and elsewhere.”

The letter from lawmakers also came a day after Major League Baseball announced it would be pulling the MLB All-Star Game and MLB Draft out of Atlanta.

Fallout over that decision has seeped into other states, like Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott said he will no longer be throwing the first pitch at the Rangers home opener and said the state will not try to host future MLB events.

MORE ON THE LAW

SB 202 is part of a wave of GOP-backed election bills introduced across the country after the November election.

The law places new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative oversight of elections. 

The 95-page bill includes things like:

  • Requiring an ID number, like a driver’s license, to apply for an absentee ballot
  • Cutting off absentee ballot applications 11 days before an election
  • Limiting the number of absentee ballot drop boxes
  • Allowing the state to take control of what it calls “underperforming” local election systems
  • Disallowing volunteers from giving away food and drink to voters waiting in lines

Proponents of the law say it will strengthen the electoral process and help voters have more confidence in the results.

Opponents of the law say it will mostly impact urban counties with more Democrats and have referred to it as 'Jim Crow 2.0.'

RELATED COVERAGE

Flanked by supporters, Kemp doubles down of defense of Georgia election law following All-Star Game fallout

Texas governor says he won't throw out first pitch, state won't try to host any MLB events

'Stay and fight': Democrat Stacey Abrams urges groups to remain in Georgia after MLB decision

Georgia companies respond to new voting law signed by Gov. Kemp as calls for boycotts increase

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