Amazon's annual shareholders meeting draws protests, Rev. Jesse Jackson

Drew Atkins

Drew Atkins Jun 29, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Amazon's annual shareholders meeting draws protests, Rev. Jesse Jackson</h1>
                <h2><p>City councilman Bruce Harrell, animal rights activists, union representatives, Rev. Jesse Jackson and more descended on Seattle Wednesday morning for Amazon's annual shareholders meeting. Outside the gathering, over 100 protesters gathered to represent a variety of causes, including improved transit, worker rights and Amazon's sale of</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/drewatkins1-gmail-com/">Drew Atkins</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>City councilman Bruce Harrell, animal rights activists, union representatives, Rev. Jesse Jackson and more descended on Seattle Wednesday morning for Amazon's annual shareholders meeting. Outside the gathering, over 100 protesters gathered to represent a variety of causes, including improved transit, worker rights and Amazon's sale of <em>foie gras</em>, a product some argue entails extreme cruelty to ducks. Geekwire <a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2015/amazon-annual-meeting-picketed-by-affordable-housing-and-workers-rights-advocates/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">reports</a> that board members were jeered as they arrived.</p><p>Inside the meeting, Jackson addressed the shareholders about the need for more racial diversity in the tech economy. The appearance was part of an ongoing effort by Jackson, who has successfully pushed to address a number of tech company shareholder meetings in recent months, as well as last December's Washington STEM <a href="http://www.washingtonstem.org/Get-Involved/Events/STEM-Summit?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">summit</a>. As <em>The Seattle Times</em> <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/jesse-jackson-to-press-for-inclusion-in-amazon-workplace/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">notes</a>, Jackson is unsure whether he will get a chance to meet with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to discuss a company whose workforce Jackson says does not "look like America."</p>
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City councilman Bruce Harrell, animal rights activists, union representatives, Rev. Jesse Jackson and more descended on Seattle Wednesday morning for Amazon's annual shareholders meeting. Outside the gathering, over 100 protesters gathered to represent a variety of causes, including improved transit, worker rights and Amazon's sale of foie gras, a product some argue entails extreme cruelty to ducks. Geekwire reports that board members were jeered as they arrived.

Inside the meeting, Jackson addressed the shareholders about the need for more racial diversity in the tech economy. The appearance was part of an ongoing effort by Jackson, who has successfully pushed to address a number of tech company shareholder meetings in recent months, as well as last December's Washington STEM summit. As The Seattle Times notes, Jackson is unsure whether he will get a chance to meet with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to discuss a company whose workforce Jackson says does not "look like America."

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By Drew Atkins

Drew Atkins is a journalist and writer in Seattle, and the recipient of numerous national and regional awards. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Seattle Times, The Oregonian, InvestigateWes