WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom SVP of Corporate Engagement and Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco, Bowyer Research President Jerry Bowyer, and Inspire Investing CEO Robert Netzly
WHAT: Press conference following Apple’s annual shareholder meeting, where all four resolutions on the proxy ballot are from ADF’s coalition and allies
WHEN: 1 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 25
WHERE: Via Zoom. To attend or schedule an interview, contact ADF Media Relations Manager Jacqueline Ribeiro at (202) 961-9396.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This year, a significant coalition effort has led to the filing of 68 shareholder resolutions spearheaded by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys on behalf of values-aligned investors, financial advisors, corporate engagement experts, and state financial officers. Collectively, the coalition represents over $250 billion in assets under management.
Apple will hold its annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. For the first time, all four resolutions on this year’s proxy ballot have been put forward by ADF and its allies, including two resolutions that ADF authored.
The four resolutions address key issues, including partnerships with activist groups that pressure companies to harm free speech and religious freedom, ethical AI practices, DEI policies, and child sexual abuse material.
Inspire Investing filed an ADF-authored resolution urging Apple to report on the impact of its partnerships with divisive groups such as the Human Rights Campaign and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The National Legal and Policy Center authored a proposal for Apple to report on its artificial intelligence data collection and usage practices. The National Center for Public Policy Research filed a proposal calling on Apple to cut discriminatory and legally risky DEI policies. American Family Association and Bowyer Research filed an ADF-authored proposal urging Apple to report on the impact of its decision to remove an iOS software function designed to identify child sex abuse material—a move that has resulted in one Apple executive characterizing the company as “the greatest platform for distributing child porn, etc.”
“Americans are done watching activists weaponize the companies we own to attack our freedom and companies’ success,” Tedesco said. “We are setting the agenda for corporate America, and that starts with Apple. Publicly traded companies like Apple do not belong to executives or boards of directors. And they certainly do not answer to activists with interest in the company. These companies belong to shareholders who entrust the long-term health of their financial future to corporate leaders.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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