Conservatives are criticizing Coca-Cola for allegedly donating to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which recently came under fire after at least one chapter shared pro-Palestinian messages on social media, while others demand proof.
On October 7, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza. As of Friday, at least 2,800 people had been killed on both sides, the Associated Press reported.
Posting to X—the social network formerly known as Twitter—CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) slammed the corporation for supposedly donating money to BLM and other “radical left” organizations. Newsweek was unable to verify that Coca-Cola donated to BLM.
“Hey @CocaCola and @CocaColaCo you donated $4 Million to Black Lives Matter Inc. along with other radical LEFT groups,” CPAC wrote.
“Do you still support BLM Inc’s antisemitism as they support terrorist attacks on Israel?”
The claims caused outrage amongst CPAC followers, with @StephenMaret declaring “#boycottcoke.”
“We demand a response,” wrote Bret Weingart.
“Their secret formula contains blood,” said @Vox_Oculi.
“Time to bud light them!” commented Eric. Conservatives boycotted the beer brand in April after it sent transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney a personalized beer can to celebrate her first year living as a woman.
However, accused CPAC of pushing false claims, with Deviantbreed writing: “You’re blatantly lying.”
“You know it’s a lie, you know those who listen to you don’t,” they said.
Jo West agreed, commenting: “Feel free to provide an actual source.”
“Protesting black people being murdered is not radical,” said Jay Caesar, while Pride Hawkins wrote: “This is a business trying to do their best in each community where they sell their products!”
The antisemitism claims in CPAC’s post appear to refer to a graphic shared by Black Lives Matter Chicago. On October 10, the branch was accused of supporting the recent Hamas attacks on Israel after sharing an image of a soldier paragliding with a Palestinian flag, alongside the caption: “I stand with Palestine.”
The post sparked an uproar. Black Lives Matter Chicago deleted the post shortly afterward, before apologizing on October 11.
“Yesterday we sent out [messages] that we aren’t proud of,” the organization posted to X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.
‘We stand with Palestine & the people who will do what they must to live free. Our hearts are with, the grieving mothers, those rescuing babies from rubble, who are in danger of being wiped out completely.”
CPAC doesn’t say where it got the $4 million figure from, or name the other “radical left” groups that Coca-Cola allegedly supports. However, the corporation does donate to charitable causes.
According to the Coca-Cola Foundation website, the brand has awarded over $1.5 billion in grants since its founding in 1984. Although it doesn’t mention specific organizations, the corporation pledges to support sustainability, equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights.
In 2020, the corporation partnered with several Atlanta-based social change organizations and celebrities for the Together We Must: Conversation, a virtual event to advance civil rights.
These organizations included the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the not-for-profit social change organization The King Center, community engagement platform Inclusivv (formerly known as Civic Dinners) and Equitable Dinners, an annual event that brings people from diverse backgrounds together to fight racism and other issues.
Coca-Cola also donated $500,000 to 100 Black Men of America Inc., a mentoring organization for African-American people.
Newsweek has reached out to CPAC and Coca-Cola for comment via email.