Boycott Coors
In the 1920’s, the KKK held their cross burnings on property adjoining Coors property. In the 50’s, the Coors family were funders of the John Birch Society. In 1966, Chicana/os called for the boycott of Coors beer because of its racist hiring practices. In 1969, Coors was charged with racial discrimination. Coors was found guilty in 1970. Not until 1977 was Coors finally forced to settle out of court, paying thousands of dollars and rehiring several workers. From 1967 to 1972 Joseph Coors was a regent at the University of Colorado where he opposed the existence of campus groups such as UMAS (United Mexican American Students), BSU (Black Student Union), and SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). He was always known for distributing John Birch Society literature to fellow regents. He was quoted as saying the University should strive for quality students and not quantity. In 1971, Joe Coors along with Jack Wilson and Paul Weyrich founded Analysis and Research Inc., to establish a political research entity. After $200,000 of Coors money and two years, the group failed to attract supporters. Eventually, Coors and Weyrich started a committe for the Survival of a Free Congress to carry out political activities and the Heritage Foundation as a tax exempt educational research entity. Joe Coors coughed up $200,000. Paul Weyrich was the president. Seems Weyrich had ties to Josef Strauss of Bavaria Germany who was active in a political party that coalesced with repentant Nazi’s after World War II. Strauss came to the United States in the early 1970’s. Weyrich and Strauss’ aid by the name of Armin K. Haas planned Strauss’ schedule. Joe Coors helped Haas make political contacts in Congress. In 1974, the Heritage foundation sent an advisor to help Kanawha County school with a text book protest movement. This political movmement was portrayed as a parent rights case but the Klu Klux Klan was involved. The books that they wanted to ban were books on African-American authors or texts that dealt with the culture of African Americans. Through their philanthropic donations, Joseph Coors and other family members have bankrolled a right-wing agenda of union-busting, homophobia, sexism, racism, and covert operations. The Coors family has served as the cornerstone of the right-wing movement known as the New Right. For details, read “Coors Connection: How Coors Family Philanthropy Undermines Democratic Pluralism” by Russ Bellant (ISBN: 0896084175) After years of boycotting this racist, sexist, and homophobic company on a national level, National Council of La Raza (NCLR) helped broker an agreement to put an end to the boycott. It was signed by the directors of the GI Forum, NCLR and League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). The agreement called for Coors to provide sponsorship money to these organizations and help Chicanos become distributorship owners, i.e. Tom Flores in CA, for which these organizations agreed to increase Coors’ “market share” of Latino drinkers. That means the promotion of drinking Coors beer and increasing the number of drinkers and alcoholics in our communities. Today, Coors can be found giving money to foundations and organizations in an effort to promote a positive image for the company. The truth is that Coors only puts on this mask of kindness in order to make money while poisoning the minds, bodies, and spirits of nuestra gente. Coors has and will continue to be our enemy. Chale con Coors!
