On May 4, a small business owner and member of Small Business Rising participated in a Senate briefing, alongside other experts and members of impacted communities, to expose the ways monopoly power poses a threat to our democracy, undermines the health of our economy, and exacerbates racial disparities.
This is a crucial moment for antitrust nationally. With the Biden administration nominating strong leaders, such as Lina Khan, to the Federal Trade Commission and Congress poised to consider antitrust legislation, this briefing focused on why we need to rein in monopolies and unveiled the latest polling data showing strong public support for curbing Amazon's power. It was co-hosted by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Athena coalition, and American Family Voices,
You can watch the briefing here.
You can find a summary of the polling here.
Among the speakers was an Arizona-based business owner, who is a third-party seller on Amazon and member of Small Business Rising. Fearing retaliation by Amazon, he chose to remain anonymous.
Other speakers included Maurice BP-Weeks, Co-Executive Director, Action Center for Race and Economy; Tyler Hamilton, Amazon warehouse worker at MSP1 and Awood Center member; Veena Dubal, Professor of Law, UC Hastings Law; Myaisha Hayes, Campaign Strategies Director, Media Justice; Stacy Mitchell, Co-Director, Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR); and Celinda Lake, Political Strategist and President, Lake Research Partners.