Posted on 07/05/2006 8:39:21 AM PDT by kddid
The Rev. Jesse Jackson brought his protest of BP PLC to the site of one of the state's worst refinery accidents Tuesday to speak against what he calls price gouging, discriminatory hiring practices and unsafe working conditions at the company.
He led about 100 spirited followers on a march in front of BP's Texas City refinery, where 15 workers were killed and more than 170 were injured in an explosion last year.
"We are going to engage in direct action against BP to change their behavior," Jackson said. "They need to stop energy exploitation, stop manipulating prices and undercutting the American people."
Late last week federal investigators said that traders at Britain-based BP cornered the U.S. propane market in the winter of 2004 to manipulate prices, which drove up heating costs for rural consumers.
A few days before that announcement a group of black leaders led by Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton announced a boycott of BP. Jackson said BP was chosen as a target for the boycott because none of its upper-level executives are black and there are no black owners among its hundreds of U.S. distributors.
"If you see an Amoco or Arco station, honk your horns and keep driving," he told the cheering crowd.
BP said 1,535, or 24 percent, of its officials and managers in the United States in 2005 were minorities, including 614 blacks. Thirty percent of new hires from universities the past two years were minorities.
"I would say that diversity and inclusion are part of the corporate DNA of BP," company spokesman Ronnie Chappell said Tuesday. "Two distinguished African Americans" serve on BP's global board, he said.
"We see having a diverse work force as a competitive advantage," Chappell said. "That extends beyond race to gender and sexual orientation."
Chappell said rising crude prices were the main force behind higher gasoline prices and were out of the company's control. "When it comes to crude prices we are price takers, not price makers," he said.
During Jackson's speech and the march, which was abbreviated because of a downpour, protesters held signs that bore the logo of Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition and said things like: "BP Safety Hazard, Honk for Lower Gas and Honor Civil Rights." Some chanted "Safety" and "Lower gas prices."
Jackson discussed the deaths that occurred in the blast and said he doesn't believe the Texas City refinery is safe, despite a fine of $21.3 million after the accident by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for violations of its rules.
Marchers included people from the United Steelworkers of America and others in the community who are concerned about safety inside the plant. "I'm here because I don't like the way they're treating these people," said Lewis Adams, a lifelong Texas City resident. "They aren't making it safe for those people that work in these plants."
Chappell said the company is upgrading equipment at the Texas City plant and has taken steps to improve safety.
Jackson said all Americans should be concerned about energy issues.
"If you're white, black or brown, we are all victims of the energy monopolization, price gouging and greed," he said. "The American public has been too silent. We must fight back to drive down the price of gas."
Though his primary target is BP, he also wants to send a message to the government that they should step in to limit gas prices.
"We're going to be marching in 50 cities until we drive the price of gas down," he said. "I want the government to hear us and make a commitment to cap the cost of gas and fuel, a commitment to enforce safety and health laws."
I select BP if there is one available. I understand they only get a small portion of their oil from the Middle East
I thought there were laws against extortion... how does JJ get away with it as a career?
Threat of being called a name causes the cowards to ignore the law and accept continued racism as practiced by the criminal Jackson family.
" how does JJ get away with it as a career?"
Very simple. The directors of the companies are COWARDS!
Do you remember 3 years ago when a 28 year old CEO of a high tech firm in Palo Alto was paid a visit by Jackson. Well, the CEO had Jackson escorted out of his office by security guards, then called a press conference and stated that Jackson tried to shake him down, so he had him removed from the premises. It was friggin fantastic, and the company never heard from Jackson again. Jackson, when queried by the press, had no comment : )
BP is foreign oil. It is British Petroleum.
They overcharge on gasoline to pay for their mis directed green programs.
Don't buy BP
In the book Shakedown, Wall Street analysts said that Jesse Jackson had shakendown every single major corporation in America!
The analysts said this included major unions in California and other large states. In addition to cash payments, he has had his own key people placed on stockholder boards.
These people have very little, if any, financial experience, and we've seen the results with the downturn in the markets in some key areas and in the state of California particularly.
I don't understand why this isn't discussed more often on the Neil Cavuto show and by Republicans when the discussions turn to the economy.
I thought that maybe when GW got elected that he would have cleaned out D.C. & put conservatives in the positions that were run by the Klintoons & his dad. I thought the he might sic the IRS on HighJackson & his ilk but again he left these enemies in power to destroy him. Doubt that he understands that today.
He gets away with this extortion because the Media and the Democrat party are AFRAID to call him on it.
It's that simple.
Here.
How about a '60 Minutes',,,or 'Nightline',,,or '20/20' TV special on Jesse Jackson 'shakedowns' for a change?
What is really, actually funny, at times is the nere total blackout in the LameStreamMedia from reporting and analyzing Jesse's true, now and historical calling as a racial shakedown artist. I hear the man is very wealthy, but I have never known him to have a single legitimate job in his life.
I think that if BP tells JJ and his coalition to "F" off, nobody will care. They should try this.
RATS! Now I have to come up with one!!
"I don't understand why this isn't discussed more often on the Neil Cavuto show and by Republicans when the discussions turn to the economy."
It is amazing this is not discussed, Peach. And there is no excuse for it not being discussed.
It has been done before, and successfully.
I am heartened that Jackson only managed to assemble 100 or so protestors.
If JJ was a white guy he would have been put in prison for racketeering. Long ago.
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