From Coke to Woke, Coca-Cola Suffers GOP-led Backlash

From Coke to woke, the Georgia-based soda conglomerate is now feeling the effects of its rash decision. By condemning the state’s new GOP voting reform bill, the company now stands to lose a lot from within Georgia and outside. 

RELATED: Trump Calls For Boycott of MLB, Woke Companies

From Coke to Woke

Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey joined a number of woke companies and the Major League Baseball organization in criticizing the new voting law. “Let me be crystal clear and unequivocal: This legislation is unacceptable, it is a step backward, and it does not promote principles we have stood for in Georgia around broad access to voting, around voter convenience, about ensuring election integrity. And this is, frankly, just a step backward,” Quincey said on CNBC.

The newly-signed law received criticism from Democrats. Reportedly, they worked with activist groups to pressure mainstream companies to speak out on the matter. Apart from Coke, another Georgia company, Delta Air Lines, said the development is not aligned with their values. Meanwhile, the MLB arbitrarily decided to pull out their scheduled All-Star Game in Atlanta, citing the new law as their reason to move. 

Donald Trump: Boycott The Wokes 

Former President Donald Trump, himself a Diet Coke regular, challenged his supporters to fight back. For years, Trump said Democrats “played dirty” and boycotted products from companies they disagreed with. He suggested that this time, Republicans apply the same strategy. They should boycott the MLB, Coca-Cola, Delta, and other companies.

“It is finally time for Republicans and Conservatives to fight back — we have more people than they do — by far!. Don’t go back to their products until they relent. We can play the game better than them,” Trump said in a statement.

Georgia GOP Boycott of Coke

Many GOP members heeded the call to distance themselves from woke companies. At least eight Georgia Republican state lawmakers requested Kevin Perry, the president of the Georgia Beverage Association, to stop giving Coca-Cola products to their offices. For decades, Coca-Cola provided free beverages to Republican and Democratic Georgia lawmakers, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Coke holds its main office in Atlanta and employs around 4,000 workers in the state. 

“Given Coke’s choice to cave to the pressure of out-of-control cancel culture, we respectfully request all Coca-Cola Company products to be removed from our office suite immediately. Should Coke chose to read the bill, share its true intentions and accept its role in the dissemination of mistruths, we would welcome a conversation to rebuild a working relationship,” the Georgia lawmakers wrote. 

Coke Boycott At The National Level As Well

Other GOP leaders at the national level also took shots at the embattled beverage company. Former Arkansas governor and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee wittingly said that Coca-Cola plans to change its name from Coke to Woke-A-Cola because of its position. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Ted Cruz went to Twitter to check who Coke’s largest institutional purchasers are. Also, he wondered if these purchasers agree with Coke’s radical politics. 

In addition, large investor firms also hold a significant stake in the company. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett holds 9.28% of the company, while Vanguard Group owns 6.85%. When asked for their comment on Coca-Cola’s political stance, neither have yet to say anything on the matter. 

Other Woke Companies

Other companies who similarly transformed from Coke to woke included Delta Air Lines. CEO Ed Bastian wrote a memo to Delta employees and insisted the new law is unacceptable. Delta is Georgia’s largest private employer. Meanwhile, Major League Baseball officially announced that Colorado will instead host the 2021 All-Star Game. As a result, some GOP lawmakers considered proposing removing MLB’s longstanding antitrust exemption.

Other companies mentioned by Trump that allegedly suffer from woke culture included firms he clashed with before. “Boycott Major League Baseball, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, ViacomCBS, Citigroup, Cisco, UPS, and Merck. Don’t go back to their products until they relent. We can play the game better than them,” he said.

Watch Today’s video reporting that US Companies face boycott threats over Georgia voting law:

Do you agree with the GOP-led boycott of woke companies? Also, do you support Georgia’s new voting laws? Share with us your thoughts and opinions. Leave your comments below.