The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), a program of ACCESS, and its Campaign to TAKE ON HATE are among 25 advocacy groups calling on The Coca-Cola Company to dissociate from political conventions where hateful rhetoric and bigotry would be highlighted and praised. 

In the last few months, candidates for public office have repeatedly disparaged Latino, Muslim, Arab and Black communities, as well as women, LGBT people and people with disabilities. Latinos have been referred to as criminals and rapists and it has been suggested that mosques should be monitored and shut down and that American Muslims should be registered to a database. In addition, supporters of candidates have engaged in violent acts against African Americans and other people of color.

Across the nation, our communities will be holding local elections. We encourage all citizens to exercise their right to vote. However, we strongly oppose and condemn negative campaigning based on tactics that are anti-immigrant, refugee, Arab and Muslim, and otherwise racist rhetoric that spreads hate. This year, numerous incidents from California to the Midwest to Maine have been documented in the media.  We ask our supporters during our week of #TakeOnHateWithAction to speak out against those who use fear-mongering tactics and demand that they stick with what matters: issues that impact our quality of life.