-------- Forwarded Message --------
| Subject: | Enjoy a Coke with the KKK |
|---|---|
| Date: | Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:45:37 +0000 |
| From: | Brandi Collins, ColorOfChange.org <info@colorofchange.org> |
| Reply-To: | Brandi Collins, ColorOfChange.org <info@colorofchange.org> |
|
Dear Cinquez,
Donald Trump is all but certain to be the Republican presidential nominee this summer. And corporate sponsors like Coca-Cola are planning to fund his coronation at the Republican National Convention (RNC).
Even with Trump refusing to disavow the support of the Ku Klux Klan this weekend and declaring "All Lives Matter" at a rally, Coca-Cola still has not canceled their sponsorship of the RNC.1 2 How can Coca-Cola, a company that heavily markets to and profits from Black people, fund a platform for a presidential nominee that is being bolstered into office by former Grand Wizard David Duke, the KKK, and other white supremacists?
Coca-Cola is stuck pretending that their sponsorship won't provide a platform for Trump's dehumanizing hate speech. But when corporate dollars are used to fund a platform for a demagogue who promotes a violently anti-Black message that company is just as culpable as the person shouting.
Will you call on Coca-Cola and other sponsoring companies to end their sponsorships of a Trump-led convention?
YES - I'll demand Coca-Cola stop providing a platform for hate speech
Coca-Cola, like many of the companies sponsoring the RNC, claims to be a champion of diversity and has run multi-million dollar marketing campaigns to convince the public of that claim.3 If Coca-Cola wants to maintain its image as a diverse and inclusive company then it can in no way fund a platform for Donald Trump.
Trump's violent political rhetoric has very real consequences for Black people.4 His use of violent rhetoric, racially charged imagery, and paranoid conspiracy theories dehumanizes Black Americans and encourages hate crimes, white terrorist attacks, and daily violence against Black Americans. It's even inspiring a rise in membership for white supremacist groups and are causing a huge spike in the number of white terror militia groups.5 6 If Coca-Cola funds a Trump-led RNC, they will be funding all of Trump's damaging messages.
Demand Coca-Cola stop providing a platform for hate speech
In a letter to ColorOfChange, Coca-Cola executives said they have a "civic responsibility" to support a Trump-led RNC to "encourage more Americans to participate in the political process." If Coca-Cola truly believes in corporate civic responsibility, than funding a platform for an anti-democratic demagogue preaching violently anti-Black, anti-Latino, anti-Muslim, and anti-women bigotry should be the last thing they would ever want to sponsor.
Coca-Cola and other RNC sponsors like Xerox, Adobe, Cisco, AT&T, and Google think their sponsorships are neutral - but they are not. These companies have a choice. They can either demonstrate real civic responsibility and stand against Donald Trump's bigotry, or they can throw away their multi-million dollar diversity marketing campaigns.
Will you demand these companies stand against Donald Trump?
YES - I'll demand Coca-Cola stop providing a platform for hate speech
Thanks and Peace,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Brittaney, and Bernard
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References:
1. " Critics lash out at Trump over white supremacist backing," RawStory, 02-28-2016
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5914?t=8&akid=5437.129851.j9bg3P
2. "#BlackLivesMatter Protests Trump In Alabama, Trump Responds: "All Lives Matter"," Real Clear Politics, 02-28-2016 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5915?t=10&akid=5437.129851.j9bg3P
3. "Global Diversity Mission," The Coca-Cola Company
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5916?t=12&akid=5437.129851.j9bg3P
4. "Fueling the Fire:Violent Metaphors, Trait Aggression, and Support for Political Violence," George Washington University https://act.colorofchange.org/go/5754?t=14&akid=5437.129851.j9bg3P
5. "The State of Hate: White Supremacist Groups Growing," The Leadership Conference
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5555?t=16&akid=5437.129851.j9bg3P
6. "Antigovernment militia groups grew by more than one-third in last year," SPLC, 01-04-2016
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/5753?t=18&akid=5437.129851.j9bg3P
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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