Coca-Cola Accused of Using Death Squads to Target Union Leaders.

August 20, 2002 10:07 AM

Coca-Cola Accused of Using Death Squads to Target Union Leaders. In a link from yesterday we saw Coca-cola avoid taking responsibility for the actions of one of its franchise outfits. Let's see how they weasel out of this one.
posted by Qubit (13 comments total)

everybody now!
"i'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony..."
posted by quonsar at 10:13 AM on August 20, 2002

Following a trend seen in recent threads, I only think it fair to chime in here and say, "Execution: Coca Cola style!"
posted by adampsyche at 10:39 AM on August 20, 2002

Guess Coke hasn't completely eliminated the cocaine connection.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:45 AM on August 20, 2002

i for one would like to welcome our new cola overlords.
posted by quonsar at 10:48 AM on August 20, 2002

"Reward your curiosity by getting a bullet in the head!"
posted by DailyBread at 11:10 AM on August 20, 2002

Unfortunately, up to this point the Alien Tort Claims Act , the law used by the plaintiffs in this case, tends to "generate publicity and stir politics", rather than mete out justice. That trend seems to be changing now that the law is being used to hold corporations responsible for their activities abroad. Just ask Exxon about what happened in Indonesia.
posted by stopthemadness at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2002

quonsar... there will be a battle between the new cola overlords and the space tree overlords - winner will determine whether we drink cola in space or grow trees with cola.
posted by thunder at 11:27 AM on August 20, 2002

This story got some coverage in an Atlanta indie newspaper. Here is the press release from the people that filed the 66 page complaint (wordpad format).

I no longer purchase coke products.
posted by toothless joe at 11:39 AM on August 20, 2002

joe: because of your teeth, or because of the death squads?
posted by quonsar at 11:44 AM on August 20, 2002

quonsar: Don't make me gum you.
posted by toothless joe at 12:12 PM on August 20, 2002

stopthemadness, all I see still are publicity and politics. It remains to be seen whether any of these claims will hold up in a courtroom. Certainly now that the Unocal suit has been cleared many more will be filed, but we have to remember that a lawsuit is merely an argument.
posted by dhartung at 12:26 PM on August 20, 2002

"Wherever there is unions, there's always deathsquads. Wherever there are drugs, there's always snipers. Wherever there is a beat, there's always a bong. Whenever there is cracked-politicos, there's always Coca-Cola. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo."
posted by benjh at 12:44 PM on August 20, 2002

We read this but think nothing of it. I would love to see some people start to change their buying habits because of what Coke or Nike or Wal-Mart's practices are. We don't and we justify it.
posted by Coop at 4:12 PM on August 20, 2002