Dispatch: Roebling Suspension Bridge shut down due to protesters
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is currently shut down due to protesters, according to Kenton County Dispatchers.
The protesters, who say they are human rights and environmental advocates, hung a 1,600-square-foot banner that states, “P&G: Stop Forest Destruction.”
A press release sent out by the group says the Roebling Bridge has been around as long as Procter & Gamble, making it a significant area to hang their banner.
“Today’s demonstration occurs amidst a rapidly escalating, multi-faceted campaign calling on the consumer goods giant to meaningfully address systemic failures of its corporate policies and actions to prevent forest destruction, climate pollution and conflicts with local communities that result from its large scale use of forest risk commodities like palm oil and wood pulp in its products,” wrote media spokesperson Blair FitzGibbon.
This comes a week before the annual P&G shareholders meeting, which will be led by President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Jon Moeller.
It is expected that family members of P&G founders William Procter and James Gamble will call on shareholders to vote against the board’s “unsustainable” policies, according to the Natural Resource Defense Council.
A letter addressed to the shareholders was filed as an exempt solicitation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dated on Sept. 8:
Dear Procter & Gamble Shareholders,
We are descendants of P&G’s founders and shareholders in the Company. As such, we hold a unique and historic perspective on P&G’s activities and policies, including its long-held pledge to be a “Force for Good”.
We take pride in Procter & Gamble’s history of being a socially progressive leader by offering employees stock options in 1903, and by promoting gender diversity amongst its management positions beginning in the 90s. We are inextricably tied to the company, and are invested, beyond the literal sense, in P&G maintaining a reputation of leadership among its peers and delivering on being a “Force for Good.”
Unfortunately, our experience in recent years has led us to believe that the company may be failing to deliver on this pledge and falling behind its peers, creating significant financial risk.
Our concerns in this regard have been heightened by learning that P&G was subject of a complaint filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2022 inquiring whether the company’s claim to prohibit forest degradation is materially misleading to investors. In May, P&G’s most recent Forest Commodities Policy removed the statement regarding prohibition of forest degradation in its pulp supply chain along with its prohibition of Intact Forest Landscape sourcing in its palm oil supply chain, but the Company continues to point to those claims in other documents on its investor website.
– James Epstein, Justine Epstein, Jules Feeney, Christopher Matthews, Eleanor Van Buren, Thomas Van Buren, Kyla Van Buren, Hunter Knight, and Linda Draper
In addition, the descendants are requesting shareholders to oppose the reelection of Moeller, Lead Director Joe Jimenez, Chair of the Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee Angela Braly, and Patricia Woertz.
Enquirer media partner FOX19 NOW reached out to P&G for comment on the protest, but have not heard back.
It is unknown how long the bridge will be shut down as of now.
This report was provided by Enquirer media partner FOX19.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Roebling Suspension Bridge closed due to protesters
