Communities for Local Power, formerly known as Citizens for Local Power, has called a demonstration for this Friday to push for the cancellation of Central Hudson customers’ debt and other utility-related issues.

“Community leaders will speak on different aspects of unjust electricity charges, questionable billing practices, and solutions for this issue,” a CLP press release stated. “People are fed up, and something must be done about Central Hudson’s exploitative practices. It must fall on company shareholders, not on ratepayers — our neighbors, to fix this widespread issue.”

On hand at the protest, set for Friday, March 13 from 5:30 p.m.- 7 p.m. at the corner of Fair and North Front streets in Uptown Kingston, will be numerous speakers, including: City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey, former CLP member, ex-state senator and current state Cannabis Control Board member Jen Metzger; Ulster County Legislator Phil Erner (District 6); Ulster County Legislator Abe Uchitelle (District 5); Daniel Atonna of For the Many; Patrick Robbins of the Energy Democracy Alliance); Leanna Zilles of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York); Troy Ellen Dixon of Communities for Local Power; and Daniel Woodham of the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network.

Co-sponsors include A.J. Williams-Myers African Roots Center, Celebrate845, Citizen Action-Hudson Valley Chapter, Energy Democracy Alliance, For the Many, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative, Mid-Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists of America, New Yorkers for Clean Power, North American Climate, Conservation and Environment, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund, Renewable Newburgh, Rise Up Kingston, Ulster Activists, Ulster Immigrant Defense Network and others.

Technical support will be provided by Radio Kingston. Organizers promise free pizza. There will be music from Tin Horn Uprising and the Rosendale Improvement Association Brass Band & Social Club will launch the event. Puppets provided by Redwing Blackbird Theater of Rosendale.