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E. "Neville" Isdell
Chairman, Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer
The Coca-Cola Company
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
Dear Mr. Isdell:
This letter and the referenced petition
signatures are being sent to Coke to bring a matter of great concern
to your attention. From the attached correspondence you will see
that you, your predecessor and fellow members of the Board of Directors
have been unresponsive.
As you are aware, Coke was invented by a
Confederate veteran. Historically Coke relied upon the Proud
Heritage of Southerners to increase the sales of Coke products. As a
result Coke became the beverage of choice and one which untold
thousands were proud of.
It was with great shock and dismay that an
increasing number of your customers discovered that Coke has
inexplicably changed. Coke has not only abandoned its roots, but is
now using our money to discriminate against Southern Heritage.
Efforts to discuss this issue with designated
representatives have failed. For example, questioning the
involvement of Coke in the Georgia Business PAC resulted in
responses that were basically a denial of documented facts (the
Georgia Business PAC records are open public records in Georgia).
Even the changing of the information on your flagship product, Coke,
from "Confederate veteran" to "civil war veteran" was denied when it
is obvious to all on your web site.
To further demonstrate just how out of touch
your company's policies are with your former and current customer
base we are enclosing a copy of the recent Mason Dixon poll. This is
a professional statewide poll on State Flag issues. Please note that
79% of Georgians want a Georgia Flag FAIR Vote and only 15% support
your company's position of forcing political correctness upon us.
Your company thwarted the will of at least 79%
of Georgians and these statistics probably hold true in other States
as well.
It is our opinion that neither your customers,
nor your stockholders should be subjected to this abuse of corporate
funds. In fact the responsibility for proper use of corporate funds
does fall with the Board of Directors and the officers of the
Corporation.
The attached list of former customers, and
those who join this effort will simply discontinue the use of your
products, continue to spread the word, and be sure that your
stockholders are aware until a successful resolution is reached. A
successful resolution must include the following:
- Restore the recognition of the inventor of
Coke.
- Ending discrimination against Southern
Heritage.
- Reconciliation for deliberate attempts to
promote anti-Southern political campaigns.
Rev. William Swann, our spokesman has provided
Coke with over 40 pounds of paper petition signatures. Also without
any response from Coke. Your North American sales will continue to show an
increasing level of depressed performance until this situation is
addressed and your stockholders have a right to know why a steadily
growing number of former customers are choosing other products.
Should you desire to discuss the above in good
faith we urge you to contact Rev. William Swann.
For now, we remain your former
customers.
Sincerely,
Mike Crane
725 Ridgeview Road
Morganton, Georgia, 30560
Encl: Verified electronic petition signatures (The
Coca-Cola Company Should Get Out of Politics
petition, online at:
http://www.spofga.org/petition/petition.phtml?PetitionID=4),
printed copy available upon request.
November 18, 2003 -
Letter
to Warren Buffett, member Coke Board of
Directors
November 18, 2003 -
Letter to Douglas Daft , Board of Directors
March 1, 2004 –
Letter to Douglas Daft, Board of Directors and registered agent
(Georgia).
September 27, 2004 - Letter to
E. "Neville" Isdell
Mason Dixon Poll
Cc: Board of Directors (each member)
Scott Leith
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