MARK's Boycott Coors Collection

The Coors beer boycott was a nationwide campaign that lasted for nearly two decades, beginning in the late 1970s. It was driven by a broad coalition of labor unions, civil rights activists, feminists, and LGBT organizations protesting the Coors Brewing Company's alleged discriminatory labor practices, union-busting efforts, and financial support for right-wing causes. Critics accused the Coors family of funding conservative and extremist organizations, including anti-LGBT and anti-immigrant groups.

One of the most aggressive anti-Coors organizations was the Birmingham-based Movement Against Racism and the Klan (MARK), which accused the Coors family of having ties to white supremacist groups. In 1981, Coors sued MARK for libel over these claims, resulting in a four-year legal battle. MARK ultimately retracted its statements and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution. Despite legal challenges, the boycott remained a prominent example of grassroots activism, highlighting the intersection of economic justice, racial equality, and corporate accountability.

The Coors boycott campaign not only raised awareness about corporate influence in politics but also strengthened alliances between progressive movements, particularly labor unions and the LGBTQ+ community. The campaign’s legacy continues to be studied as an example of sustained, multi-issue activism in the late twentieth century.