THANK YOU!!! Southern Company heard and saw US!
Why did we do what we just did?
Created by Noah Friedman Studio
We are friends and family, co-workers, and neighbors primarily from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and friends from around the country who are using our voices and power. We demand Southern Company and their subsidiaries (Mississippi Power, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power) put utility ratepayers' interests over the interests of company shareholders. It is possible for Southern Company to be profitable AND equitable and we demand they do what is necessary to make that happen. Everybody deserves a stable home, decent work, and a livable future. But Southern Company has done nothing but actively deny the climate crisis and work to dismantle our democracy and reproductive rights.
A few more facts about Southern Company that you need to know
Watch our Rally Hype Call here! (Passcode: f9%5?BjB)
Here’s what happened at the Southern Company shareholder meeting:
The moment our team reached the gates of Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA (where the meeting is held every year) they were stopped and intimidated by police. People in other cars that came in behind them were allowed to pass right through without being stopped or asked for their IDs and proof of share ownership. However, our team was pulled over and asked for their ID’s and proof of share ownership, and then they were then told that their proof was invalid and would not be able to attend the meeting. Eventually, our team got inside but were confronted by outgoing Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning, who interrogated them about why they were there and what their issues were. Ultimately, Southern Company changed the format of their meetings because of our group so that now if questions from shareholders were not aligned with the meeting agenda that a representative will contact the person after the meeting. This means they don’t want to hear what we have to say in a public space. HUGE thank you to #BlackVotersMatter for offering the use of their van for transportation to Callaway Gardens.
Photo by The People’s Justice Council
Here’s what happened at the rally:
Our coalition of 50 people from across the U.S. rallied on the corner of Ted Turner and Ivan Allen in downtown Atlanta where the Southern Company CEO offices stand. There was a press conference where key partners shared their stories about the impacts of dirty energy infrastructure, anti-democracy, high utility bills, and facility working conditions on individuals, communities, and workers that live near or work at dirty energy facilities. We held space and raised our voices as one to make it very clear that we were watching Southern Company and demand they put ratepayers before shareholders. After the rally we walked to a bridge over the 75/85 interstate to show our signs to drivers and to take group pictures. Together we passed out over 250 flyers and handed out 100 LED light bulbs and Southern Company education materials in mutual aid. There was a consistent police presence but they did not approach us directly at any time (like they did last year). Instead they drove past our group multiple times to let us know that we were being watched.
Photo by The People’s Justice Council
Our hashtags for the rally were:
#Power4SouthernPeopleNOTSouthernCompany
#P4SPNSoCo
#YourHighBillsStartHere
#StopRatepayerRobbery
#PeoplePower
#PeopleBeforeProfits
#NoMoreHighUtilityBills
Photo by Aesthetics
Those who spoke at the press conference were the following:
Artis Burney - Cosmic Poetry Sanctuary
Shemika Collins - #BlackVotersMatter
Ronald James Jr - #BlackVotersMatter
Brittney Linton - Green Workers Alliance
Deborah Opie - Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund
Neil Sardana - Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign
Theo Sutton - Mississippi Rising Coalition
We can’t thank our partners enough for their passion and support!
9to5 Georgia
Black Voters Matter Fund
Cosmic Poetry Sanctuary
Free My People
G.A.S.P.
GA WAND
Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund
Georgia for the Coalition for the People’s Agenda
Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Girl + Environment
Green Workers Alliance
Margins: Women Helping Black Women
Mississippi Rising Coalition
Palm Collective
The People’s Justice Council
PowerSwitch Action
Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign
Sustaining Way
Photo by Aesthetics
All of these incredible community, climate, and advocacy organizations can’t all be wrong about Southern Company. They need to change their practices ASAP! If they can make adequate changes to their policies and operations, the entire nation will benefit.
Here's what’s happening next!
Register for the 5/30 Campaign Action call where you can hear more about the rally and what’s next for the campaign this summer and how you can get involved!
Register for the 6/8 Rally debrief if you would like to share what worked during the rally and how we can improve going forward!
You’ll be hearing from us between 6/12-30 with specific ways for you to plug in where you live!
Links you can use:
Volunteer with the campaign
We just wanted to say thank you for all of your support and for lending your voice to join residents across the South and the nation to demand Power 4 Southern People NOT Southern Company!
In radical love and solidarity,
The Arm in Arm Team