Microsoft became the latest major company to express concern about Georgia's law curbing voting rights, which critics say will especially impact Black communities' voting access.
Our thought bubble, via Axios' Ina Fried: These corporations, many of which are based in Georgia, could have spoken up earlier when the law was being considered or before the governor signed. States often take cues from how hard businesses push back.
- Activists pressed Georgia-based businesses to publicly oppose the legislation for weeks before it was signed into law, and are now calling for people to boycott the companies.
What they're saying:
Microsoft: "We are concerned by the law’s impact on communities of color, on every voter, and on our employees and their families.
- "We share the views of other corporate leaders that it’s not only right but essential for the business community to stand together in opposition to the harmful provisions and other similar legislation that may be considered elsewhere."
Coca-Cola: The Georgia law is "unacceptable" and "a step backwards," CEO James Quincey told CNBC Wednesday. "[It] is wrong and needs to be remedied, and we will continue to advocate for it both in private and now even more clearly in public."
Cisco: "Our vote is our voice, and everyone deserves the opportunity to be heard. Governments should be working to make it easier to vote, not harder," Cisco chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins tweeted. "Ensuring equal #VotingRights isn't a political issue, it's an issue of right and wrong."
Delta Airlines: "[I]t’s evident that the bill includes provisions that will make it harder for many underrepresented voters, particularly Black voters, to exercise their constitutional right to elect their representatives. That is wrong."
Home Depot: "We believe that all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation. We’ll continue to work to ensure our associates, both in Georgia and across the country, have the information and resources to vote."
Citi Group: "We strongly oppose efforts to undermine the ability of Americans to avail themselves of this fundamental right."
BlackRock: "While BlackRock appreciates the importance of maintaining election integrity and transparency, these should not be used to restrict equal access to the polls."
AFLAC: "We remain committed to our previously stated principles that voting should be easy, accessible, secure and transparent."
72 Black executives, led by former American Express CEO Ken Chenault and outgoing Merck CEO Ken Frazier, also called on corporations to oppose voting restrictions in a historic open letter.
Civil rights groups clapped back immediately after the bill was signed, filing several lawsuits within the week.
