AT&T needs to uphold its promise to suspend contributions to candidates who refused to certify the 2020 election results or who have publicly demonstrated their support for doing so. (Photo: Flickr/cc)
Our Democracy Is in Danger and AT&T Is to Blame
AT&T is the number one contributor to extremist legislators introducing dangerous laws that silence us and keep us from the polls.
AT&T, one of Dallas' leading businesses, has built its reputation around serving the community and connecting family and friends. Yet on May 19, as shareholders and company leaders gathered virtually for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, local and national activists joined together to call the company out for contradicting its own values and undermining our democracy.
As one of Texas' major companies and biggest employers, and as a company whose purpose is to connect Americans, we cannot let them disconnect us from the democracy that exists to serve the will of the people.
AT&T claims to support civic participation and racial justice through grandiose statements ("Corporate America cannot sit this one out," and "AT&T Supports Advancing Equal Justice Reforms") and shareholder resolutions, while at the same time AT&T is the number one contributor to extremist legislators introducing dangerous laws that silence us and keep us from the polls.
These lawmakers are fighting to keep structural racism, infringing upon civil rights and disenfranchising voters in hopes to divide and distract us while they block popular legislation including democracy reform and policies that will make our voices stronger. Millions of people, especially in Black and Brown communities, are blocked from exercising their constitutional rights because of restrictions on voting rights and the corroding influence of corporate money in politics.
In the Texas primary elections in March, over 24,000 mail-in ballots were rejected throughout the state, far more rejections than previous years. Voting rights activists and local elected officials say this was due to the introduction of the SB1 bill that imposed new identification requirements, silencing many eligible voters.
The future of our democracy can not and should not be in the hands of corporations and politicians who want to take us back to policies reminiscent of the Jim Crow era.
But AT&T, its CEO John Stankey, and its head of Executive and Legislative Affairs, Sr. Executive Vice President Ed Gillespie, are helping these politicians advance their anti democratic agendas by providing financial support to their campaigns.
While AT&T was donating to their campaigns, state lawmakers were pushing for (and successfully passed) dozens of anti-voting and anti-protest laws across the county since 2021. AT&T was also one of the first companies to break their commitment to ending financial contributions to the members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.
In public statements, annual reports and filings with the SEC, AT&T pledged to advance equal justice reforms. Yet this year its Board or Directors rejected a shareholder resolution that calls on company executives to explain actions that aren't aligned with its commitment to values including gender equality and dedication to "overcoming systemic barriers and ensuring civil rights for all people." The company has contributed to politicians that pushed new voter suppression laws through, and lobbied for legislation that creates criminal penalties for peaceful protesters.
AT&T and its leadership, especially CEO John Stankey and Sr. Executive Vice President Ed Gillespie, should publicly recommit to supporting policies that expand access to the ballot box and make it easier for eligible voters to participate in our elections. AT&T needs to uphold its promise to suspend contributions to candidates who refused to certify the 2020 election results or who have publicly demonstrated their support for doing so. It also needs to stop lobbying for or giving money to state legislators who sponsor anti-protest bills.
As one of Texas' major companies and biggest employers, and as a company whose purpose is to connect Americans, we cannot let them disconnect us from the democracy that exists to serve the will of the people. AT&T, hear the clarity of this call: help us restore and protect our freedom to vote. Together, we can take a step forward to achieving a democracy that is truly representative and responsive to the American people.
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
AT&T, one of Dallas' leading businesses, has built its reputation around serving the community and connecting family and friends. Yet on May 19, as shareholders and company leaders gathered virtually for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, local and national activists joined together to call the company out for contradicting its own values and undermining our democracy.
As one of Texas' major companies and biggest employers, and as a company whose purpose is to connect Americans, we cannot let them disconnect us from the democracy that exists to serve the will of the people.
AT&T claims to support civic participation and racial justice through grandiose statements ("Corporate America cannot sit this one out," and "AT&T Supports Advancing Equal Justice Reforms") and shareholder resolutions, while at the same time AT&T is the number one contributor to extremist legislators introducing dangerous laws that silence us and keep us from the polls.
These lawmakers are fighting to keep structural racism, infringing upon civil rights and disenfranchising voters in hopes to divide and distract us while they block popular legislation including democracy reform and policies that will make our voices stronger. Millions of people, especially in Black and Brown communities, are blocked from exercising their constitutional rights because of restrictions on voting rights and the corroding influence of corporate money in politics.
In the Texas primary elections in March, over 24,000 mail-in ballots were rejected throughout the state, far more rejections than previous years. Voting rights activists and local elected officials say this was due to the introduction of the SB1 bill that imposed new identification requirements, silencing many eligible voters.
The future of our democracy can not and should not be in the hands of corporations and politicians who want to take us back to policies reminiscent of the Jim Crow era.
But AT&T, its CEO John Stankey, and its head of Executive and Legislative Affairs, Sr. Executive Vice President Ed Gillespie, are helping these politicians advance their anti democratic agendas by providing financial support to their campaigns.
While AT&T was donating to their campaigns, state lawmakers were pushing for (and successfully passed) dozens of anti-voting and anti-protest laws across the county since 2021. AT&T was also one of the first companies to break their commitment to ending financial contributions to the members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.
In public statements, annual reports and filings with the SEC, AT&T pledged to advance equal justice reforms. Yet this year its Board or Directors rejected a shareholder resolution that calls on company executives to explain actions that aren't aligned with its commitment to values including gender equality and dedication to "overcoming systemic barriers and ensuring civil rights for all people." The company has contributed to politicians that pushed new voter suppression laws through, and lobbied for legislation that creates criminal penalties for peaceful protesters.
AT&T and its leadership, especially CEO John Stankey and Sr. Executive Vice President Ed Gillespie, should publicly recommit to supporting policies that expand access to the ballot box and make it easier for eligible voters to participate in our elections. AT&T needs to uphold its promise to suspend contributions to candidates who refused to certify the 2020 election results or who have publicly demonstrated their support for doing so. It also needs to stop lobbying for or giving money to state legislators who sponsor anti-protest bills.
As one of Texas' major companies and biggest employers, and as a company whose purpose is to connect Americans, we cannot let them disconnect us from the democracy that exists to serve the will of the people. AT&T, hear the clarity of this call: help us restore and protect our freedom to vote. Together, we can take a step forward to achieving a democracy that is truly representative and responsive to the American people.
AT&T, one of Dallas' leading businesses, has built its reputation around serving the community and connecting family and friends. Yet on May 19, as shareholders and company leaders gathered virtually for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, local and national activists joined together to call the company out for contradicting its own values and undermining our democracy.
As one of Texas' major companies and biggest employers, and as a company whose purpose is to connect Americans, we cannot let them disconnect us from the democracy that exists to serve the will of the people.
AT&T claims to support civic participation and racial justice through grandiose statements ("Corporate America cannot sit this one out," and "AT&T Supports Advancing Equal Justice Reforms") and shareholder resolutions, while at the same time AT&T is the number one contributor to extremist legislators introducing dangerous laws that silence us and keep us from the polls.
These lawmakers are fighting to keep structural racism, infringing upon civil rights and disenfranchising voters in hopes to divide and distract us while they block popular legislation including democracy reform and policies that will make our voices stronger. Millions of people, especially in Black and Brown communities, are blocked from exercising their constitutional rights because of restrictions on voting rights and the corroding influence of corporate money in politics.
In the Texas primary elections in March, over 24,000 mail-in ballots were rejected throughout the state, far more rejections than previous years. Voting rights activists and local elected officials say this was due to the introduction of the SB1 bill that imposed new identification requirements, silencing many eligible voters.
The future of our democracy can not and should not be in the hands of corporations and politicians who want to take us back to policies reminiscent of the Jim Crow era.
But AT&T, its CEO John Stankey, and its head of Executive and Legislative Affairs, Sr. Executive Vice President Ed Gillespie, are helping these politicians advance their anti democratic agendas by providing financial support to their campaigns.
While AT&T was donating to their campaigns, state lawmakers were pushing for (and successfully passed) dozens of anti-voting and anti-protest laws across the county since 2021. AT&T was also one of the first companies to break their commitment to ending financial contributions to the members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.
In public statements, annual reports and filings with the SEC, AT&T pledged to advance equal justice reforms. Yet this year its Board or Directors rejected a shareholder resolution that calls on company executives to explain actions that aren't aligned with its commitment to values including gender equality and dedication to "overcoming systemic barriers and ensuring civil rights for all people." The company has contributed to politicians that pushed new voter suppression laws through, and lobbied for legislation that creates criminal penalties for peaceful protesters.
AT&T and its leadership, especially CEO John Stankey and Sr. Executive Vice President Ed Gillespie, should publicly recommit to supporting policies that expand access to the ballot box and make it easier for eligible voters to participate in our elections. AT&T needs to uphold its promise to suspend contributions to candidates who refused to certify the 2020 election results or who have publicly demonstrated their support for doing so. It also needs to stop lobbying for or giving money to state legislators who sponsor anti-protest bills.
As one of Texas' major companies and biggest employers, and as a company whose purpose is to connect Americans, we cannot let them disconnect us from the democracy that exists to serve the will of the people. AT&T, hear the clarity of this call: help us restore and protect our freedom to vote. Together, we can take a step forward to achieving a democracy that is truly representative and responsive to the American people.