Latino and Community Leaders from Across U.S. Protest Carlos Slim at GW University Graduation Commencement Ceremony Today
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Over 1,000 Latino leaders, community activists and concerned citizens from across the United States descended on the National Mall in Washington DC today protesting the presentation of Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world, with an honorary degree from George Washington University during its graduation ceremony. The coalition - Two Countries One Voice - is committed to exposing Slim's monopolistic practices with which he has amassed his fortune.
Two Countries One Voice leaders Juan Jose Gutierrez and Andres Ramirez issued the following statement today in conjunction with today's protest:
"Today was just our first action of many to expose the truth about Carlos Slim. We cannot let our American institutions and corporations be lured by his wealth. They must sever ties with him for his riches have been largely amassed on the backs of the Mexican poor.
"Our coalition is growing every day with over a thousand Latino and community activists today protesting George Washington University for honoring a man who has gouged billions of dollars every year from people in Mexico and across Latin America.
"Our voices will continue to multiply and get louder so the truth about Carlos Slim is exposed."
Regular protests this week also occurred on GW University campus calling on university officials to sever ties with Slim.
Video of 5/18 protest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wG4D0lfLLM
Video of 5/17 protest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKEF6Agg5W0
Video of 5/16 protest: http://youtu.be/7ZG-ixS-cO4
BACKGROUND: Carlos Slim's power and fortune is made up primarily from his monopoly on the Mexican telecommunications system. According to the independent and highly respected Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD), Slim's company, America Movil, which controls 80% of the total Mexican telecom, cell and internet industries, charges exorbitant prices and provides inadequate services. Their report also shows that Slim has price-gouged Mexican customers billions of dollars for basic telephone and Internet service.They point out that those specifically and most profoundly affected by these business practices are rural and poor communities.
The impact of Carlos Slim's monopoly has resulted in Mexico ranking LAST in public investment in telecommunications compared with the 33 other OECD countries while Slim's company Telemex had a profit margin of 47% - one of the highest of the OECD countries.
SOURCE Two Countries One Voice
