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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 attached 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 your predecessor and fellow members of the Board of Directors
have been very 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.
In summary, we have sadly drawn the conclusion
that Coke is now using our money derived from purchase of your
products to further a political agenda that we find abhorrent. We
have also concluded that efforts to communicate with Coke through
your established representatives will only result in further
insulting replies, so this matter was brought to the attention of
the Board of Directors without a reply. Even our legal request for
obtaining information on contacting stockholders was ignored,
despite the documented evidence of numerous stock holders
participating in this effort. Prior to filing a complaint with the
SEC we wanted to give you an opportunity to review the actions of
your predecessor.
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 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)
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).
Cc: Board of Directors (each member)
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