Corporate leaders join the resistance
The creators of chocolate bars, pencils and sensible trousers joined Trump opponents this week.
After Trump issued an executive order undercutting Barack Obama’s 2015 clean power plan on Wednesday, major companies including Mars Inc, Staples, Levis Strauss and Gap Inc came forward to criticize Donald Trump’s climate agenda.
While Trump says rolling back climate regulations will bring back coal jobs and spur job growth in the fossil fuel industry, some of America’s largest companies aren’t convinced. “We believe that investing in a low-carbon economy will not only help foster a healthier environment, it is also a key to unlocking new business growth potential for the US and around the world,” a Gap spokesperson told the Guardian.
Read more about the companies resisting Trump here.
A number of companies have said they will continue to abide by Obama’s plans anyway – something of a thumb in the eye for the new president.
As an aside: Mars Inc produces Skittles, the popular candy that got Donald Trump the Younger in trouble last year.
Up next in the resistance
Bernie Sanders will headline a gathering of thousands of progressive activists in Chicago in June.
People’s Summit 2.0, organized by a range of groups including Our Revolution, People for Bernie and National Nurses United, will feature speakers like Sanders along with workshops on things like training to run for office and non-violent direct action. Michael Moore, Linda Sarsour and Bill McKibben are also expected to attend.
The Guardian was at the inaugural People’s Summit last year.
Don’t fall for it
Activists have been warned not to donate to fundraising campaigns that say they will publish members of Congress’ internet search history.
A number of GoFundMe campaigns sprung up after the House of Representatives voted to allow internet service providers to sell customers’ browsing data, sparking outrage over privacy concerns. The humorous campaigns aimed to purchase, then make public, individual politicians’ browser history. One such campaign raised over $190,000 in contributions.
But a number of tech experts have pointed out that exposing individual politicians data isn’t actually possible.
Picture of the week
Artist Aram Han Sifuentes has created a “protest banner lending library” in Chicago. She’s created 60 different cloth banners, which are on display at the Chicago cultural center, and they’re all available to loan. Han Sifuentes told the Guardian she wanted to create something other people can use at demonstrations and rallies.
Hashtag of the week
The tag #blackwomenatwork sprung up after Fox News host Bill O’Reilly mocked Rep Maxine Waters , accusing the congresswoman of wearing a “James Brown wig”.
Activist Brittany Packnett encouraged women to share their experience of being criticized at work.
Visitor: "Can I speak to the principal?" Me:"I am the principal." #BlackWomenAtWork
— Teresa JamesRobinson (@DeltaDiva1971) March 29, 2017
#BlackWomenAtWork Client asked to speak to a manager. I said that was me. So she asked to speak to the owner. I said that would also be ME.
— Nicole20Pearls (@PrettyGirl1170) March 28, 2017
What we’re reading
“I am an Arctic researcher,” writes Victoria Herrmann. “Donald Trump is deleting my citations.” Read her – rather scary – piece here.
Meet “the activist Bonnie and Clyde” – a young couple spearheading the resistance movement in Portland, Oregon.