A Christmas PR event by Coca Cola was ambushed Sunday, December 22, by gay rights protesters appalled by 'Coke’s collusion with the homophobic and anti-human rights Russian regime.'
by Newsdesk | 24th December 2013
Protesters attempted to climb on the roof of the promotional Coke party truck in Covent Garden piazza as Coca-Cola staffers handed out free soda, but they were hauled down by security guards. They then stood in front of the truck, urging people to boycott Coke and chanting, “Things go worse with Coke in Russia.”
TheGayUK recently asked its readers whether they believed that if a company sponsored the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia that it would affect its LGBT friendly image.
Over 96% of respondants thought that it did.
'Coke is sponsoring the Sochi Winter Olympics without even a murmur of unease at the anti-gay and repressive policies of the Putin government. It is shameful acquiescence with oppression,' said Peter Tatchell, director of the human rights advocacy organization, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, who coordinated the protest.
In June, Russia enacted a law that effectively bans any pro-LGBT statement in public or private and on the Internet. Russia also barred adoptions of Russian children by anyone living in a jurisdiction that allows same sex marriage. The law has led to arrests of gay and lesbian Russians and unleashed a wave of anti-LGBT violence, including rape, torture, and murder.
The Russian parliament has also considered legislation that would allow the government to remove children from a household headed by a gay or lesbian parent. While that legislation is not currently active, activists believe the parliament will consider it again after the Olympics are over.
'By sponsoring the Sochi Winter Olympics, Coca-Cola is rewarding the Putin regime, giving it legitimacy and credibility ,' Tatchell continued. 'Coke’s sponsorship comes at a time when homophobia and other human rights abuses are widespread in Russia. Equally remiss is Coke’s unwillingness to speak out against other Russian human rights abuses.'
Coca Cola is one of several big-name commercial sponsors of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Some of the others include Visa, MacDonald’s, Panasonic, General Electric, Omega, Dow, Atos, Samsung , and Proctor & Gamble.
The London protest was organised with the support of the African LGBT organization the Out and Proud Diamond Group. The group’s spokesperson, Edwin Sesange, said:
'Our protest was in support of all Russians—LGBT and straight—who are courageously resisting Putin’s authoritarian rule and who are striving for democracy and human rights. Coke should not be giving the appearance of colluding with homophobia and tyranny.
'As Africans who have suffered homophobic persecution, we stand united with our Russian LGBT brothers and sisters. This is a global fight for LGBT equality,' added Sesange.
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