A COUNTY in North Carolina has banned Coca-Cola vending machines following the company's criticism of a controversial Georgia voting law.
Officials in Surry County voted to ban the machines in all of its office buildings in a bid to "cancel Coca-Cola" and "take a stand against left-wing politics."
The all-Republican county commissioners passed the ban on a 3-2 vote last month, but the machines are still yet to be removed, WXII reports.
Eddie Harris, the longest-serving commissioner in Surry County, said the boycott was a way for the country to take a stand against "cancel culture."
He also said he hopes the ban is enacted in the rest of the state to use the far-left's "cancel culture tactics against them."
"The left-wing in America, they defund, they boycott, they cancel, they tear down statues — all sorts of egregious actions," Harris told WXII.
“The expectation from them is the opposing political side will cower in the corner and we’re supposed to accept that and it’s supposed to be OK. And it’s not OK.”
"We are trying to cancel Coca-Cola," he added. "To use their tactics against them."
Harris' outrage comes after the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company released a statement on April 1 criticizing Georgia lawmakers for passing new voting legislation that critics claim makes it harder for minorities to lodge their ballots.
The bill cuts down on the number of absentee ballot drop boxes and expands the powers that the Legislature has over elections.
"We want to be crystal clear and state unambiguously that we are disappointed in the outcome of the Georgia voting legislation," CEO James Quincey said in the statement.
"Throughout Georgia’s legislative session we provided feedback to members of both legislative chambers and political parties, opposing measures in the bills that would diminish or deter access to voting."
Harris reportedly wrote directly to Quincey on Surry County letterhead.
"Millions of Americans believe that the last presidential election was not held in a fair manner and that more voter fraud will occur in the future if elections are not closely monitored and regulated,” the letter reportedly said.
He later explained to WXII that while he does accept Joe Biden as president, he believes Conservatives "have a right to know what goes on in their elections."
Harris said he believes Georgia's voting bill will help to do just that.
Coca-Cola has not yet returned a request for comment from The Sun.
However, a company spokesperson told WXII that they have reached out to the county and have set up a meeting with the commissioners.
"As a company headquartered in North Carolina since 1902, Coca-Cola Consolidated is honored to serve Surry County and counties throughout the state," the spokesperson said.
"Our 37 teammates who live and work in Surry County are passionate about serving our customers in this area."
In April, former President Donald Trump called for a complete boycott of Coke, along with other companies including UPS, JP Morgan, and Delta, after they also spoke out against Georgia's bill.
"For years the Radical Left Democrats have played dirty by boycotting products when anything from that company is done or stated in any way that offends them," he wrote.
"Now they are going big time with WOKE CANCEL CULTURE and our sacred elections.
"It is finally time for Republicans and Conservatives to fight back—we have more people than they do—by far!"
Coke has recently come under fire for being too "woke" after it was revealed the company hosted a training seminar in February teaching employees "how to be less white."
Participants were also instructed how to be "less ignorant," and "less oppressive".
One slide read: "In the US and other Western nations, white people are socialized to feel that they are inherently superior because they are white.
"Research shows that by age 3 to 4, children understand that it is better to be white," it continued.
The company, in a statement to The Sun, said that the training was intended to promote a more inclusive workplace for its employees.
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