Walmart Backs Away From ALEC’s Quest to Suppress Black Voters

May 31, 2012

Walmart Stores Inc., announced late Wednesday it’s suspending its membership with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the right-wing policy group that has worked to suppress the black vote and promoted "Kill at Will" gun laws. "We feel that the divide between these activities and our purpose as a business has become too wide. To that end, we are suspending our membership in ALEC," Wal-Mart vice president of public affairs and government relations, Maggie Sans, told Reuters. Sans is stepping down as secretary of ALEC’s corporate board. "The ColorOfChange community welcomes Wal-Mart’s decision to cut ties with ALEC, the right-wing policy group that has worked to suppress the Black vote. With this move, the company acknowledges that it has heard the voices of everyday people who believe in transparency in government and who see the particular impact ALEC’s model laws have had on Black communities nationwide," ColorOfChange.org Executive Director Rashad Robinson said in a statement. ColorOfChange.org[ launched a campaign in December 2011 ](http://colorofchange.org/campaign/alec/)to educate corporations about [ALEC’s role pushing voter suppression laws nationwide.](https://colorlines.com/archives/2012/04/coke_pepsi_and_kraft_have_pulled_out_of_alec_-_is_that_enough.html) Walmart is the 18th group to end ties with ALEC. [Last Friday Amazon.com announced they would no longer renew their membership](https://colorlines.com/archives/2012/05/amazon_becomes_16th_company_to_stop_funding_conservative_public_policy_group_alec.html) with ALEC and before them other groups including the Coca-Cola Co., Kraft Foods Inc., McDonald’s Corp., and Procter & Gamble Co., withdrew support. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer of blacks in the U.S., according to ColorOfChange.org.