July 23, 2002
More than 75 people protested outside Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta Monday, reiterating their call for the company to do more to help African workers fighting AIDS and to help stop violence at bottling plants in Colombia. The protesters -- representing about 10 groups, including the AFL-CIO, ACT UP Atlanta, Concerned Black Clergy and Amnesty International -- claim Coke does not provide access to HIV/AIDS treatment to the 100,000 Africans its bottlers employ. Coke said the plants, which it does not own, are developing AIDS strategies and that the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and UNAIDS are working on initiatives for AIDS education, prevention and treatment programs in Africa.