'We are trying to cancel Coca-Cola': NC county bans Coke machines in office buildings

Surry County Commissioners say that they're disappointed with the company's criticism of Georgia Republicans' new restrictive voting laws.

The ban passed on a 3-2 vote, with two commissioners opposed.

Eddie Harris, Surry County commissioner, said that this was a way for the county to take a stand against "cancel culture," or the idea that liberal democrats are trying to silence conservative voices and get people fired for their political beliefs. He said he felt it was appropriate "to take a stand" against the "left-wing" politics of Coca-Cola.

"Yes, we are trying to cancel Coca-Cola," he said. "To use their tactics against them."

The Georgia-based soda company has recently been outspoken in defending voting rights. Republicans lawmakers passed a sweeping bill limiting voting across the state in March. The bill cuts down on the number of absentee ballot drop boxes and expands the powers that the Legislature has over elections.

Activists and Georgia Democrats say the new law specifically targets voters in minority communities.

In the 2020 presidential elections, Georgia was a battleground state. In a surprising turn of events, the state flipped and voted for Joe Biden as president. Since then, former President Donald Trump has told his supporters that there was election fraud in the state and the election should have gone to him.

Harris said that he does accept Joe Biden as president, but believes Conservatives "have a right to know what goes on in their elections." He believes Georgia's bill will do just that.

The vending machines have not yet been removed from office buildings in the county, according to WXII.