Fifty of Fight for Philly’s members, who owned shares in the company, attended the meeting inside, while other members gathered outside to hold a people’s shareholders meeting.
Outside, activists took to the microphone to speak about Comcast’s use of loopholes to avoid paying taxes and the harm it has caused to schools and communities. Additionally, activists urged Comcast to cut their ties with ALEC, which helps produce tax loopholes for large corporations. Drummers and protestors marched up and down 13th street while the shareholder meeting was going on.
Inside, our activist shareholders wasted no time engaging Comcast CEO Brian Roberts with questions about Comcast’s failure to pay its fair share of taxes and its membership in ALEC. In response to the persistent questioning, the Roberts admitted to using the Delware loophole. Comcast Vice President David Cohen noted to the entire room that he had received the 1,200 signatures of our petition for Comcast to dump ALEC – and said he would respond in writing.
Members exited the meeting holding their Comcast shares high and shouting “We are the 99%”
“I asked Mr. Roberts why Comcast hasn’t paid its fair share” said Elizabeth Days. “I pay taxes, so why can’t you pair yours? But, they didn’t want to answer that.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, Fight for Philly members marched to City Hall to support the City Council resolution calling on the School Reform Commission (SRC) to support the jobs of Philadelphia School District support staff.
The final stop of the May 31 Triple Play was the SRC meeting, where we joined hundreds of others to vote “No Confidence” in the budget and restructuring plan. Activists crowded into the meeting to urge the SRC members to not leave public education behind, and to search for full funding from Governor Corbett and the state’s corporations and 1%. Unfortunately, the bare bones budget passed – but Fight for Philly and other public education supporters will continue to hold Governor Corbett accountable for funding our schools.