The Coalition Against Coke Contracts (CACC), a University of Illinois registered student organization, held a protest at 12 p.m. today on the Quad side of the Illini Union. The group was rallying against the University’s possible renewal of a contract with Coca Cola Company that would name them the sole proprietor of beverages on campus.

The contract will go up for consideration again in 2007. There were more than 50 attendees including students, faculty, University staff and community members.

Shivali Tukdeo, a graduate student and coordinator for CACC, said she hopes that the protest will gain the attention of the University administration.

“They should give credence to the human rights abuses (perpetrated by Coke),” she said.

The protestors alleged that Coke attempted to break up unions and depleted environmental resources in some of the countries where its bottling plants are located.

The rally also featured guest speaker Amit Srivastava, who works with Coca Cola protest groups on campuses across the country.