Wed 30 Oct 2013 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A glbti rights group has hired trucks emblazoned with a call to speak out against Russia’s homophobic laws, and had them circle Coca-Cola’s HQ in Atlanta, for an entire day. The move from all out came after more than 140,000 people signed its petition calling for major Olympics sponsor to take a stand, speaking out against Russia’s gay ‘propaganda’ law ahead of the Sochi games. It also urges Coca-Cola to donate funds to Russian human rights defenders, and to ask the Olympic Committee to change the rules so future Olympics can only happen in countries that fully respect equality. "Coke is an incredibly important position of power and has the ability to influence the International Olympic Committee, other sponsors and Russian leaders," says All Out founder Andre Banks. "The safety and dignity of Russians, athletes and fans is in doubt as long as Russia's anti-gay laws are intact. Olympic sponsors have a moral obligation to speak out now.” Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of the Olympics since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 30th October 2013 - 9:07am