In N.A.A.C.P., (Soft-Drink) Industry Gets Ally Against Soda Ban (?!!!)

[N'Zinga Shani]

The N.A.A.C.P. Has Close Ties to Several Soft-Drink Companies, Particularly Cocoa-Cola

The civil rights organization is standing by its friends in their fight against Michael Bloomberg’s soda rules.  New York City health officials say the obesity rate for African-Americans in New York City is higher than the city average. The city’s health commissioner, Dr. Thomas A. Farley, said Wednesday that he was “disappointed” the N.A.A.C.P. had opposed the plan. “African-Americans are suffering disproportionately in this crisis, and I don’t think the N.A.A.C.P. should be siding with the big soda companies,” he said. “They are attacking public health officials who are trying to respond to that crisis.”  Read the complete article linked below.

In N.A.A.C.P., Industry Gets Ally Against Soda Ban
New York Times, Michael M. Grynbaum, 01/23/2013
As the American soft-drink industry argued its case in court on Wednesday against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s restrictions on sugary drink sizes, a prominent local group stood by its side: the New York chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. The obesity rate for African-Americans in New York City is higher than the city average, and city health department officials say minority neighborhoods would be among the key beneficiaries of a rule that would limit the sale of super-size, calorie-laden beverages. But the N.A.A.C.P. has close ties to big soft-drink companies, particularly Coca-Cola, whose longtime Atlanta law firm, King & Spalding, wrote the amicus brief filed by the civil rights group in support of a lawsuit aimed at blocking Mr. Bloomberg’s soda rules, which are set to take effect in March.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/nyregion/fight-over-bloombergs-so...