WASHINGTON — The Coca-Cola Co. has ended its relationship with a conservative group seen by some as an incubator for a string of new state voter-ID laws and a marketer of laws such as Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense statute.
The Atlanta-based softdrink maker said its focus with the American Legislative Exchange Council was on combating “discriminatory” food and beverage taxes, not on issues “that have no direct bearing” on its business.
The decision to “discontinue its membership” came Wednesday, just a few hours after the black advocacy group ColorOfChange called for a boycott of the company.
Coca-Cola declined to respond to additional questions, including whether it had already paid membership for the year.
The council brings together state legislators, who pay $100 for a two-year membership, and corporations, which pay between $2,500 and $25,000 for an annual membership. The legislators and corporate representatives draft templates of legislation that can be used by lawmakers and lobbyists as models for state or federal legislation.
Koch Industries, whose top executives Charles and David Koch are prominent supporters of conservative causes, is one of the largest corporations supporting the Washington-based council.
Council spokesman Kaitlyn Buss did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Buss has previously said the group did not put a lot of effort or resources into promoting voter-identification legislation. She has also said the council had no involvement in the “stand your ground” law when Florida enacted it. The law gives wide leeway to use deadly force and eliminates a person’s duty to retreat in the face of danger. She has criticized people who turned the “tragedy” of teenager Trayvon Martin’s death into politics.
Several states have passed laws requiring voters to show specific ID, toughening voter registration or reducing early voting days. The voting laws have been seen by civil-rights and other groups, as well as many Democrats, as an attempt to suppress voting.
The Justice Department has blocked voter ID laws in Texas and South Carolina after finding they violate the Voting Rights Act. The “stand your ground” statute is under scrutiny after the fatal shooting of Martin. The shooter, George Zimmerman, has said he fired in self-defense and has not been arrested or charged.
Rashad Robinson, ColorOf-Change executive director, estimated that 300 to 400 calls and e-mail messages were made in the few hours after the call for a Coca-Cola boycott, based on written reports from participants. In a statement, Robinson thanked Coca-Cola for its decision.
Last December, ColorOf-Change began targeting corporations that financially support the council as a campaign against the passage of voter ID laws. The group also started an online petition regarding Martin’s death.
Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, which ColorOfChange asked in letters and e-mail messages to end its council membership, said in a Jan. 25 letter to Robinson that its membership expired. PepsiCo said it reviews its membership organizations each year and would keep the concerns raised by ColorOfChange in mind.
Other corporations also have been asked to end their memberships.
Business, Pages 25 on 04/06/2012