One for Our Side

The one positive outcome of Trayvon Martin’s appalling murder, is the recent withdrawal of several well-known corporations from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Thus far the list of members that have terminated their membership includes Mars candy, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Pepsico, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and the Gates Foundation. ALEC is an ideologically conservative group consisting of business interests and conservative state legislators for the purpose of drafting research, policy papers and model legislation to assist and influence state legislatures and promote conservative initiatives. ALEC is best known for drafting model legislation that can be easily adopted by state legislators and introduced as legislation. They are responsible for writing the notorious anti-union legislation passed in Wisconsin, Indiana and other Republican controlled, as well as private prison legislation in at least a dozen states, Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration law (for the benefit of Correction Corporations of America, which runs their immigration detention facilities), and Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which some blame for Trayvon Martin’s tragic shooting.

Sign the Petition!

Please support the Center for Media and Democracy Campaign to pressure other corporations to rescind their ALEC membership by signing the petition at Tell ALEC Companies to Stand Down. It’s already clear that those who manufacture consumer products are extremely concerned about bad press that might discourage Americans from buying their products. Mars, which manufactures the Skittles Trayvon purchased the night Zimmerman shot him, was one of the first to distance themselves from ALEC.

Despite the best efforts of Wall Street and the corporate media, Americans aren’t helpless against the power of corporate greed. There is increasing evidence that they have starting fighting back.