Occupy Atlanta members were busy on Monday as they occupied AT&T at Atlanta's Midtown Center to protest corporate planned layoffs. 12 protesters were arrested, but Occupy Atlanta vows to keep up the pressure, along with members of the Communications Workers of America, until the communications giant cancels its plans to layoff workers.
Via:
Police arrested a dozen protesters affiliated with Occupy Atlanta on Monday after they invaded the lobby of the AT&T Midtown Center to protest recently announced layoffs by the telecommunications giant.
Despite the arrests, Occupy Atlanta spokesman Tim Franzen said the group, joined by members of the Communications Workers of America, plans to maintain a presence outside the building, where they've set up camp on the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and West Peachtree Street.
The campsite is public property, according to AT&T spokesman Joe Chandler. "We are working with the authorities, as we were earlier today," Chandler said.
An Atlanta police spokesman said the 12 demonstrators arrested Monday were charged with criminal trespass and taken to Fulton County Jail.
Franzen said Occupy won't leave until AT&T rescinds its plan to lay off 740 workers.
"At a time when unemployment is at a record high in the state of Georgia, we can’t afford to lose one more job," according to a statement on Occupy Atlanta's webpage
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AT&T did take a financial hit during it's failed T-Mobile deal - a whopping $6.7 billion loss- however, revenue was up in the 4th quarter from last year to $32.5 billion with record iphone sales and over 700,000 new customers.
While AT&T has their excuses for the layoffs, with record sales, huge profits, and more customers, doesn't that sound more like plain old corporate greed?
