Georgia Republicans call for Coca-Cola products to be removed from legislative offices

GOP state lawmakers in Georgia are calling for the removal of Coca-Cola products from their congressional offices as the company faces intense criticism from Republicans over their comments on Georgia's new election laws, Daily Wire reports.

A number of GOP lawmakers from the state have signed a letter calling for the removal of the company's products from congressional offices.

"Upon the passage of the 'Election Integrity Act of 2021,' 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," the letter reads. "We have the responsibility to all of Georgia to not engage in those misguided intentions nor continue to support corporations who choose to. SB 202 expands early voting opportunities, provides a pathway to ensure shorter voting lines, secures the use of drop boxes which otherwise would be illegal, as well as several other provisions allowing all Georgians greater access to fast, secure, and transparent elections."

The new law has been subject to intense controversy since it was first proposed. Democrats have argued that it places excessive limits on the rights of voters, such as prohibiting them from being given water by party representatives while standing in line to vote. They have argued that these restrictions are primarily intended on preventing African-Americans from voting.

Republicans, on the other hand, have argued that the law both expands access to voting while also cracking down on election fraud. Former President Donald Trump and many Republicans have speculated that voter fraud may have impacted the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, which President Joe Biden won by a margin of less than 12,000 votes, the first time the state went Democrat since Bill Clinton carried it in 1992.

"Given Coke's decision to cave to pressure from an out of control cancel culture, we respectfully request all Coca-Cola Company products be removed from our office suite immediately," the lawmakers demanded. "Should Coke choose to read the bill, share its true intentions and accept their role in the dissemination of mistruths, we would welcome a conversation to rebuild a working relationship."

The letter comes less than a week after Coca-Cola CEO James Quincy released a statement condemning Georgia's new election law.

"We want to be crystal clear and state unambiguously that we are disappointed in the outcome of the Georgia voting legislation," Quincy said. "Throughout Georgia's legislative session we provided feedback to members of both legislative chambers and political parties, opposing measures in the bills that would diminish or deter access to voting."

Coca-Cola is not the only company which has spoken out against the new law. Major League Baseball announced last week that the 2021 all-star game would be moved from Atlanta in protest of the law, despite the fact that Atlanta votes overwhelmingly Democratic. Delta Air Lines, which initially supported the bill, also released a statement condemning the law after it was passed, for which Georgia's legislature stripped the company of $35 million in tax credits.