    
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 795
Registered: 01-2006
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 08:22 am: | 
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African Americans Call For Boycott of BP, Arco, and Amoco Gas Stations
By The Associated Press
http://www.blacknews.com/pr/bp101.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/kprc/20060704/lo_kprc/9467265
http://www.click2houston.com/news/9467265/detail.html?rss=hou&psp=news
A group of prominent black leaders including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton announced Tuesday a boycott of BP PLC, saying the oil company gouges customers and racially discriminates in its business practices.
''One of the biggest issues of our time is energy exploitation,'' Jackson said. ''We are encouraging people to go to other stations and to turn in their gas cards.'' The London-based company was targeted because none of its upper-level executives are black and there are no black owners among its hundreds of U.S. distributors, Jackson said.
BP spokesman Scott Dean defended the company's diversity, saying 15 percent of BP's U.S. employees are black and they account for almost 10 percent of senior officials.
''It is disappointing that (Jackson) is playing the race card againsta company that has a long-standing tradition of diversity, that has a work force that mirrors the diversity of the American people,'' Dean said.
Dean said that while none of BP's roughly 600 U.S. distributors are black, the company would like to find black-run companies to distribute gas regionally. The company has been sued by a black U.S. distributor who said he was unfairly denied a contract, but Dean said BP chose a different bidder with a better proposal.
Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition began weekly protests against the company last week, and he said there are plans to expand the demonstrations after he gained the support Tuesday of about 100 black leaders at a summit in Dallas that ends Wednesday.
Jackson said rising gas prices have disproportionately hurt America's poor, who travel the most for their work and can least afford to pay. He called for Congress to cap gas prices and institute a windfall profits tax that would redirect oil companies' recent record earnings toeducation and social programs.
BP, which runs BP, ARCO and Amoco stations, reported almost $5.3 billion (euro4.22 billion) in profits in the first quarter of 2006.
Dean said high fuel prices are needed to ensure a steady supply for U.S. consumers and prevent shortages.
Sharpton said protesters will converge on BP stations and offices in 12 major cities across the country. Jackson said his group plans to protest at the company's London headquarters.
Sharpton said Congress and other oil companies should take heed.
''If you give British Petroleum a good spanking, it will send a message to the other companies,'' Sharpton said.
Dean said the boycott and protests would not affect ''business as usual'' at BP stations and offices.
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