News Article

Group of Black Employees Calls For Boycott of Coca-Cola Products

The New York Times

Published: April 20, 2000

WILMINGTON, Del. - Intensifying the pressure on Coca-Cola to resolve a racial-discrimination lawsuit that is about to enter its second year, a group of black Coke employees called today for a boycott of Coke products around the world.

"In 114 years, you've only had one black senior vice president," Mr. Jones said, addressing Coke's chairman and chief executive, Douglas N. Daft, and alluding to Carl Ware, who is now an executive vice president. "In 114 years, you only found one of us qualified? How long do we wait?" Then he added: "We are never going to be anything but black employees. Let's stop buying Coca-Cola. "

Mr. Jones arrived at the meeting after a four-day journey by bus from Atlanta. He was accompanied by 30 current and former Coke employees who appeared wearing red caps with the words "Justice Ride. " Though sympathetic to those who filed the discrimination lawsuit, Mr. Jones is not one of the plaintiffs. He wants the company to improve conditions for its black employees, from salaries to promotions and stock options. It was unclear today how extensive the boycott would be.

One bottler, Ron Wilson of Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling, said a boycott in 1981 had cut into Coke sales, although he predicted that the lawsuit would be settled before long, eliminating the need for the boycott Mr. Jones announced. While the Rev. Jesse Jackson followed Mr. Jones to the microphone at the meeting, he did not mention the boycott.