Protesters held a die-in at the World of Coca-Cola on Monday to pressure Georgia-based corporations to oppose the state’s new voting bills, even though the five targeted companies had already expressed various levels of support for the GOP-backed legislation’s opponents.
Prior to the demonstration, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola did not express overt opposition to the legislation passing through Georgia’s state government but did state its support for “fair, secure elections where access to voting is broad-based and inclusive,” alluding to concerns by opponents regarding limits to voting accessibility. Demonstrators went ahead with the die-in Monday night in the hope of attracting more concrete action from corporate allies.
In video of the die-in, dozens of demonstrators can be seen lying on the grass outside the World of Coca-Cola museum with signs in their hands.
Protestors hold a “die-in” at World of Coca-Cola & demand businesses stand against bills introduced in Georgia designed to tighten election security.pic.twitter.com/VBEYntdNxH
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 15, 2021
“Voter suppression is violence,” one sign read.
Amid mounting pressure for Georgia’s largest businesses to take a definitive stance against these voting bills (these protestors are at World of Coca-Cola now, prepping for die-in) , here’s a thread on hearings: #gapol @wsbtv https://t.co/zJUvDfS98l pic.twitter.com/J9E2HHcLk5
— Nicole Carr (@NicoleFCarr) March 15, 2021
TRUMP REVELS IN WASHINGTON POST CORRECTION AND REPEATS CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD IN GEORGIA
The New Georgia Project Action Fund tweeted that it wanted to use the display as an opportunity to “demonstrate the negative impact of voter suppression on human lives.”
Since 2018, @CocaCola has donated $34,750 to GA Legislators who are currently sponsoring anti-voting bills.
At 5:31 NGPAF, our partners, supporters and volunteers will demonstrate the negative impact of voter suppression on human lives by staging a die-in at the World of Coke.
— New Georgia Project Action Fund (@ngpaction) March 15, 2021
Aflac is another Georgia-based corporation that touted the importance of “accessible and secure voting.” Among the others were Delta Air Lines, which called for “broad voter participation, equal access to the polls, and fair, secure elections processes,” Home Depot, which expressed support for elections that are “accessible, fair, and secure,” and UPS, which pledged to ensure “equitable access to the polls,” according to company statements obtained by CNBC.
Coca-Cola and Home Depot added that they were “aligned” with a statement issued by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce expressing “concern and opposition” to the proposed legislation, the Washington Post reported. Coca-Cola confirmed that they had said so in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Opponents of the legislation defended staging the protest even after the companies’ statements, saying they need strong support from corporate allies to pressure Republicans to reconsider their support for the proposed measures.
“We’ve got the power of organized people, they’ve got the power of organized money, and between us and them, we could put pressure on these legislators or, worst-case scenario, the governor to kill these bills,” Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, told CNBC.
At issue are bills SB 241 and HB 531. SB 241, which has passed the state’s Senate, would eliminate no-excuse absentee voting. HB 531, which has been passed by the House, would add an ID requirement for absentee ballot requests, limit the number of absentee ballot drop boxes, and shorten the window for absentee voting.
The protesters also hope to convince the corporations to stop sending money to lawmakers who support the proposed legislation. The six companies gave a combined $190,800 to sponsors of the two bills since 2018, according to a March 3 analysis by Popular Information.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Despite Republicans controlling Georgia’s state government, the bills may not be signed into law due to Gov. Brian Kemp’s concerns about the current proposals.
“We’re definitely going to be weighing in and working with both sides to make sure we get a final version that, you know, has broad support and really does what we need to do to get and have secure elections in Georgia,” he told WSBTV.
Representatives for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, UPS, Home Depot, and Black Votes Matter did not immediately reply to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
