'No shutoffs in Baltimore'
Activists occupy energy exec's office
By Workers World
Baltimore bureau
Some 40 community activists occupied the plush executive
suite of Baltimore's utilities monopoly April 11 to protest
giant rate hikes and the consequent shutoffs to customers.
Police arrested seven who refused to leave before meeting with
the company president.
The 40 are members of the Committee to Stop High Gas &
Electric Bills of the All People's Congress. They invaded the
office of President and CEO Christian Poindexter of
Constellation Energy Group, the holding company of Baltimore
Gas & Electric.
Bills have tripled and doubled for thousands of BG&E
customers. Since the winter moratorium ended March 31, some
have had their electricity cut off.
Chanting, "Heat and light are a right, people before
profits," the protesters unfurled hundreds of petitions inside
the office. They had begun their protest at 12 noon at the
corner of Howard and Pratt Streets and then quickly marched to
CEG's corporate offices at 250 W. Pratt Street.
The group moved too quickly for security officers to stop
them from reaching the elevators.
Once inside, the group demanded to see Poindexter.
Volunteer organizer Sharon Ceci said before news cameras and
staff: "We are angry and fed up. Constellation Energy Group
brags that they are the seventh largest energy supply company,
with holdings abroad in countries like Bolivia. They are a
billion-dollar company.
"Their president, Poindexter, makes over a million dollars a
year. There is no excuse that children in Baltimore and
Maryland will be at risk for burning to death because of gas
and electric shutoffs. There is no excuse for shutoffs or high
bills! Gas and electric are a right! People must come before
profits," she said.
Tony Weeks, youth coordinator for the committee, began to
read the hundreds of comments from people who had signed the
petitions demanding relief from bills that have soared as high
as $4,000 per month.
"This is robbery!" shouted Renee Washington to Poindexter's
staff. "We want to see Poindexter."
For 90 minutes, dozens of corporate security officers
attempted to dislodge the group, threatening to arrest the
protesters. The protesters met and decided that seven
representatives would sit in and risk arrest.
Sharon Ceci said: "We have a right to stay. Our inflated
bills have paid for these plush surroundings. A number of us
have made the commitment to remain but many of today's
protesters must return to jobs or to children."
Seven representatives sat down as police arrived.
Supporters began singing "We Shall Not Be Moved" and "We
Shall Overcome." UNITE union members Joellen and Victor; Helen
Mintor, grandmother and committee member; Tony Weeks, youth
coordinator of the Committee to Stop High Gas and Electric
Bills; Jeff Bigelow, labor coordinator for the committee; and
Renee Washington and Sharon Ceci, volunteer community
organizers with the All Peoples Congress, were arrested and
charged with trespassing.
The group was forced to spend the night in jail even though
charges were dropped much earlier in the evening.
When they got out of jail the protesters looked tired but
pleased. Renee Washington said: "We have scored a victory in
this battle. We were able to shine a light on who really
profits from the outrageously high bills. We were able to get
to the 23rd floor and confront this greedy corporation at its
summit.
"They were surprised and didn't expect it. And most of all,
they didn't expect that we would be so determined."
Protesters speculated that the energy company dropped
charges because it did not want a trial with the courtroom
packed with hundreds of supporters inside and outside.
Supporters had kept a vigil all night, regularly calling the
jail. Baltimore City Councilperson Dr. Norman Handy and State
Sen. Clarence Mitchell lent their support, as did Eric Easton,
vice president of the National Action Network. ACLU attorney
Dwight Sullivan was volunteer counsel.
Organizers said the group plans a committee meeting for
April 24 at the downtown Pratt Library, Cathedral and Franklin
Streets, at 6 p.m., third-floor auditorium. The last meeting
attracted over 300 participants. Readers who want more
information can call (410) 235-7040.
The group plans future protests to demand the governor
declare a moratorium on shutoffs and roll back rates. They will
also demand that the company open its books.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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