Corporations, Consumers, and New Strategies of Citizenship

Abstract

On April 17, 2002, The Coca-Cola Company held its annual shareholder meeting inside the Theater at Madison Square Garden in mid-town Manhattan. The meeting had been relocated to New York City as a public gesture of solidarity in the aftermath of the previous September’s terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Representatives of the New York City convention and visitors bureau thanked Coca-Cola shareowners in a letter included in the folder of materials that was distributed to the approximately twelve hundred people, including myself, attending the meeting: “Our city is more vibrant than ever in part due to the support we have received from the business community. Your solidarity with our City is greatly appreciated and has helped us all get through these difficult times.” In a videotaped address, Mayor Michael Bloomberg personally thanked the company and its shareowners for supporting the city’s efforts to recover from the trauma of 9/11.