2021 Transformation Report: Moving to Equity - Flipbook - Page 30
Southern Company will
advocate for racial equity
through our political
engagement, policy positions
and ongoing public dialogues.
Political engagement will be informed by
Our Values.
Our Values of Unquestionable Trust and Total
Commitment ensure that honesty, respect, fairness and integrity drive our behavior and that
we fully embrace, respect and value diversity –
both internally and externally. These principles
will inform our political engagement.
We will advocate for racial equity policies.
We will leverage our political influence to
advocate for policies that address systemic
racism across our four social justice pillars:
education, criminal justice equity, economic
empowerment and energy justice.
We will be consistent in our processes and
drive values-informed results.
We will make political and policy decisions
using a consistent process that incorporates
Our Values.
We will proactively engage with
policymakers and influencers.
We will advocate for racial equity with policymakers and influencers, using our brand and
platforms to lead to positive change.
30
Transformation Report
Georgia companies ask state legislature
to pass hate crimes bill, reform parole
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law a hate crimes bill passed
by the state legislature in 2020.
Atlanta Gas Light, Georgia Power, Southern Company and
Southern Company Gas signed a letter along with other Georgiabased companies asking the legislature to pass a comprehensive
hate crimes bill to help ensure the safety of all Georgians. Georgia
was one of four states not to have a similar law on the books.
Under the new law, judges can impose harsher sentences against
those who target victims based on perceived race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability
or physical disability.
The bill was spurred, in part, by the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a
Black man, who was killed by three white men while jogging near
Brunswick, Georgia.
“We saw injustice with our own eyes. Georgians protested to
demand action and state lawmakers rose to the occasion,” said
Kemp of the bill’s signing.
Georgia Power also advocated in support of parole reform legislation, which was signed into law by Kemp in May 2021. SB 105
gives people serving long probation sentences a pathway to early
termination if they meet certain eligibility requirements, including
no new arrests and repayment of restitution.
