The State - News from March 1, 1985

The California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce moved its convention from Fresno to Stockton after the Fresno chapter declined a $5,000 contribution from the Adolph Coors Co. “This is a commitment we had made to corporate America, in this case to Adolph Coors Co, and a follow-through of the mandate given us not to boycott Adolph Coors,” said Larry Lopez, executive vice president of the chamber. Lopez said the Fresno chapter forced the move by opposing a proposal that would have removed Coors as a convention sponsor while keeping the contribution for a Latino business student scholarship to be recognized at the convention. Latino and black groups have had a long-running feud with the Coors brewery over alleged hiring discrimination, but much of the dispute was settled when Coors offered funds to minority groups for their programs. Lopez estimated that about 300 people will attend this year’s event Oct. 25 to 27 in Stockton.