Workers protest AI attack on their jobs
Drivers attend Atlanta rally, July 9, 2026.
Atlanta
July 9— A broad coalition of organizations opposing Waymo driverless vehicles, data centers, FLOCK cameras and the growing impact of automation, surveillance technology and artificial intelligence on workers’ jobs and communities gathered in an Atlanta park to defend human work.
Initiated by the Atlanta RideShare Drivers Union and the Atlanta Southern Workers Assembly, the action brought together union members, youth and students, environmentalists, elders, health professionals and educators, who as stated in the press release, are “envisioning a future that prioritizes people, dignified work, democratic accountability, thriving communities and environmental sustainability.”
Immediately following the close of the rally, many participants attended an Atlanta City Council Zoning meeting where a multinational corporation worth $65 billion proposed to build a giant AI data center in the historic Black neighborhoods of Southwest Atlanta.
The City Council chamber was packed with opponents of the zoning request who demanded affordable housing instead. The measure failed 6-0 with one abstention!
The next event the coalition is planning is a forum on artificial intelligence on July 29.
