Saud Anwar

After Supreme Court Abortion Decision, Sen. Anwar Suggests Coca-Cola Company Move Some Operations To Connecticut In Letter

Such a move would provide options for concerned employees to work in state with codified abortion rights and access

Today, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on June 24 to overturn the long-standing Roe v Wade legal case that has caused significant shifts in many states’ laws regarding abortion, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) addressed a letter to the Coca-Cola Company, suggesting the Georgia-based company move some operations to Connecticut. Such a move by Coca-Cola, which already operates bottling and sales and has invested significantly in South Windsor and East Hartford, would provide employees concerned about shifting legal standards in states regarding abortion and reproductive healthcare.

Sen. Anwar‘s letter comes as elected leaders in Georgia state government have indicated a desire to limit access to abortion and reproductive health in that state. A law passed in Georgia in 2019 would ban most abortions after six weeks; while it was declared unconstitutional in 2020, it is currently under court appeal.

“I understand the Coca-Cola Company is not likely to move its headquarters to Connecticut, nor am I asking for it to do so,” wrote Sen. Anwar. “I would like to suggest, that on top of the hundreds of jobs and significant investments the Coca-Cola Company has in Connecticut, including in South Windsor and East Hartford, that the company considers our state when pursuing future business developments. Doing so could provide opportunities for women to relocate to a state that has reinforced its protections for access to reproductive health care.”

Sen. Anwarcited risks to patients’ access to necessary and time-sensitive care under stringent abortion bans, including reports in states with bans that doctors are reluctant to perform care due to legal consequences, and noted they could potentially harm Coca-Cola employees residing in states with those policies. He also noted the short time period proposed in states including Georgia could negatively impact access to care for employees as well. Knowing these issues are often personal and challenging for individuals, Sen. Anwar‘s suggestion comes with patients’ best outcomes in mind.

The full letter is reprinted in full below:

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Coca-Cola Company

1 Coca Cola Plz NW

Atlanta, GA 30313

To whom it may concern,

I write to you today asking that the Coca-Cola Company examine current market interests and investigate the potential of moving offices from the state of Georgia to the state of Connecticut. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 24 that struck down Roe v Wade, the social and legal environment for many Coca-Cola Company employees has changed. Coca-Cola moving offices or employees to Connecticut would be a valuable addition to the company’s resources, providing flexibility for employees and access to certain health procedures whose legality is currently uncertain under Georgia state law.

Elected leaders in Georgia state government have indicated a desire to limit access to abortion and reproductive rights. We have seen other states already enact bans on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Such bans represent a threat to the health of millions.

One pressing issue concerns providing necessary, time sensitive care to patients who may suffer a miscarriage.  As many as 20% of pregnancies confirmed by testing can end in miscarriages by 13 weeks into fetal development; that rate can climb even higher among individuals who miscarry before learning they are pregnant. News reports from states with early bans in place indicate that medical providers are reluctant to employ standard treatments to patients experiencing a miscarriage for fear they may face legal consequences. These laws will consequently serve to reduce access to routine and essential reproductive care.”

Additionally, many states’ imposition of six week time frames for actionable punishment could lead many women to find themselves in challenging circumstances before they even become aware they are pregnant. Age of pregnancy is often considered the first day of a missed period – which can take up to four weeks. The short time frame of awareness, just two weeks before their agency to make a decision is removed, could lead many women to learn they are pregnant with little, possibly even no, time before access to procedures become illegal.

Meanwhile, in Connecticut, Connecticut codified Roe v. Wade in 1990 to protect these rights even if the decision were overruled. Just this year, Connecticut passed laws expanding the number of medical professionals who can perform such procedures and took action to enhance protections. In times of uncertainty, Connecticut is taking steps to preserve reproductive rights for its residents.

I understand the Coca-Cola Company is not likely to move its headquarters to Connecticut, nor am I asking for it to do so. I would like to suggest, that on top of the hundreds of jobs and significant investments the Coca-Cola Company has in Connecticut, including in South Windsor and East Hartford, that the company considers our state when pursuing future business developments. Doing so could provide opportunities for women to relocate to a state that has reinforced its protections for access to reproductive health care.

In addition to Connecticut’s strong business protections, our state offers strong and inclusive communities, an economy roaring back amid the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for the Coca-Cola Company to achieve long-term growth. At a time like this, workers should be given as many options and opportunities as they can have to make the best decisions for themselves. Connecticut and the Coca-Cola Company could find common ground in that goal.

Sincerely

State Senator Saud Anwar

Connecticut’s 3rd Senate District