Power to the People — Arm in Arm

A Power 4 Southern People Shareholder Rally Recap

Following Southern Company’s annual shareholder’s meeting, advocates called out the company’s environmental and economic harm and demanded accountability

Atlanta, GA - Today, following Southern Company’s annual shareholder’s meeting, advocates from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia and across the country rallied the company’s headquarters in Atlanta to demand they put ratepayers, workers, and communities first over shareholders and profits. Advocates also attended the shareholder’s meeting in Pine Mountain this morning to voice their demands. They were politely intimidated before getting into the meeting, then it was quiet chaos after that. Advocates were informed of a new policy which states “if the questions aren’t "aligned" with Southern Company’s objectives, then a representative will contact them to answer it following the event.

Southern Company, a monopoly utility based in Atlanta, GA, is at the root of a system that values shareholders’ and company CEOs' bottom lines instead of the communities they serve in the Southeast across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Southern Company and the politicians who do their bidding use their power to attack our voting and reproductive rights and cause environmental harm in Black and low-wealth communities. Southern Company also works to pass laws that make the climate crisis worse and increase our energy bills, while they contract with renewable energy developers known for poor working conditions on their projects.

Brittney Linton - Photo by AESTHETICS (Ashley Dorelus)

“Southern Company builds renewable energy projects and it contracts for electricity from projects from other developers. This means it has a responsibility to raise standards on these projects built by contractors. We are committed to holding this company accountable for communities in this region, for the environment, and for the workers who go out there every day to build our clean energy future.”~ Brittney Linton - Renewable Energy Worker and Green Workers Alliance Member

Theo Sutton, Jr. - Photo by The People’s Justice Council

I know what it means to be alone, unheard, and stigmatized. For this reason, I aim to empower youth to learn themselves in order to better serve others. It is through this practice that we will create generational change." ~ Theoldridge Sutton, Jr - Mississippi Rising Coalition

Artis Burney - Photo by The People’s Justice Council

“A symptom of lithium toxicity is an inability to sleep. Imagine that, so it’s not just crystal meth out here creating these insomniacs. I think Southern Company has something to do with that. “ ~ Artis Burney - Founder of Cosmic Poetry Sanctuary

“Standing up for what you believe in is hard but our unification is our greatest strength and their greatest fear. Therefore we stand outside to hold Southern Company accountable to the repairs to the American people and to the citizens of the world as a poison in the air we breathe collectively.” ~ Kevin Cramer - Co-Founder of the Palm Collective, Director of Community Engagement and Spokesperson for Free My People

“Southern Power company is attempting to continue this evil by passing on one-hundred (100) percent of its fuel costs to rate payers. We are here in Atlanta Georgia to stand with the community and uplift how The People don’t want another rate hike because of capitalism. It’s time to put People before Profits.” ~ Ashley Dorelus - Documentary Filmmaker and Media Organizer - FreeMyPeople

We want to give a huge shout-out to all our allies and partners who made this action possible. Without you, this would not have been possible.

Power to the People … Rally Recap

A Power 4 Southern People Shareholder Rally Recap