Here are some links to photos and videos of January 20th and 21st in Seattle:
Thank you everyone for all the hard work.!
Jim McDermott at our rally Saturday January 21st:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0YQzB9GmNU&feature=player_embedded
Join us on Friday, January 20, for a rally at the Federal Courthouse (700 Stewart Street.) as Move To Amend - Occupies the Courts! Bring signs and banners between 10- 4 to show your solidarity with your fellow humans, grassroots organizations and local governments countrywide, entertainment and speakers from 11 to 2.
(At the US Supreme Court and 100 Federal Courts so far! 700 Stewart Street Seattle.)
The action continues from 12-4 on Saturday, January 21 with a rally, entitled: People Ignited Against Citizens United. We’ll have informative speeches, music, and interpretive activities at
Westlake Park (4th & Pine).
At 2pm, we will march from Westlake to Seattle City Hall and continue on to the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building (915 Second Avenue, between Marion & Madison).
Legalize Democracy!
http://www.facebook.com/events/285991341453769/
http://www.facebook.com/events/315384768492028/
Move To Amend - Occupies The Courts
Friday January 20th event schedule:9:00-11:00 set up stage. Helpers meet at Hotel Max "Move To Amend -
Get Money Out Green Room" to review schedule and roles and flow chart. (also communication tree, video, and press coordination).
is Citizens United and what's wrong with it?
various communities & constituencies (environment, labor,
education, small business, health care, faith, etc.).
(environment, labor, education, etc.)
(interactive skit on how to get justice back)
discussion of what we can do now to get Big Money out of politics.
Ballot initiative calling for Constitutional amendment?
Full disclosure for campaign ads?
Publicly funded elections?
State banks?
Other?
2:00 Press conference @ Hotel Max
"Move To Amend - Get Money Out - Green Room"
People Ignited Against Citizens United
Saturday January 21st (Get Money Out of Politics)
there.
about coming together to fight oil companies
of big money in politics, & other fronts we need to work on
besides a constitutional amendment; then,
introduce those giving testimonials: Ellie & Jeff
rights)
Movement, then introduces Raging Grannies
forward to Shirley? I don't have her email addy.]
H.R. bill he's co-sponsor on regarding an amendment
Seattle folk singer/songwriter does a few songs
Executive Editor of Yes Magazine & cofounder, Positive Futures
woman turning 99 years old that day, Kathleen Brodine
Acknowledge that Occupy Seattle group is planning to camp out that night.
Freedom is Coming / Justice is Coming, we stop when we see Lady Liberty and others - stilt-walkers, dancers - coming toward the north of Westlake plaza. Resume song & finish, plus will sing more in the march. Then canned music comes on @ stage and a flash mob does dance @ corner of 4th and Pine. They join the march also and we turn east on Pine, then south on 5th. End up at 2nd and Marion, parading around the Henry M. Jackson federal building, to raise the constitution we are carrying, pass out flyers there, have some people fill out petitions and postcards on clipboards.. People's Mic process to close with short Open Mic period, (no amplification there but may have bullhorns) then a poem at very end. Disperse 3:30-4.
Get The Money Out Of Politics
Two Days of Action and Education
Move To Amend - Occupies The Courts - Friday
People Ignited Against Citizens United - Saturday
January 20 & 21 in Downtown Seattle
A broad coalition that includes Move to Amend, People for Free Speech and many other organizations is initiating two days of action to kickoff a public awareness campaign focused on amending the Constitution in order to limit the power of corporations to impact elections.Our aim is to raise awareness of the Citizen's United vs. FEC ruling, which crippled our government's ability to regulate American campaign spending by huge, multinational corporations. The decision was based upon the assumption that corporations count as people with all the rights of a natural person, including free speech. It was also based on a previous ruling affirming that monetary expenditures are a form of free speech. Since there is no mention of corporations in our Constitution, and by no means are they granted the full rights of an individual, it is apparent that an appointed political court, has taken it upon themselves to shape our legal and election system according to special interests.
This legal allowance of unlimited campaign spending by human-made legal fictions doled out by corporate lobbyist's behind closed doors, with a single-focused legal responsibility to generate profits, poses a critical threat to free and fair elections in the United States. The great wealth of corporations lets them misuse the political system and overpower human beings in the struggle to be heard. This immoral granting of natural rights to unnatural entities is leading to the decline of democracy, communities, the economy, and the natural world.
It is imperative that the American people are made aware of this threat to our democratic system. Furthermore, it is critical that our Constitution is amended to include language that makes it undeniably clear that corporations are not people, and that they do not posses the same rights as natural persons. This would clear the pathway for our Congress to regulate campaign spending.
Press Release January 17th, 2012
Groups Plan to Rally on the Anniversary of the Citizens United
Decision
Get Money Out of Politics: Two Days of Action in Seattle
Occupy the Courts (01/20/2012)
People Ignited Against Citizens United (01/21/2012)
A coalition of organizations including Move to Amend, People for Free Speech, Public Citizen, and Washington Public Campaigns, will take to the streets of Seattle January 20 and 21. The rallies will launch a public awareness campaign focused on corporate personhood and the Citizens United ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted corporations the same free speech rights as individual citizens. The events have been approved by Seattle Parks Department and GSA. A trained peacekeeping cadre of volunteers will also participate with the intent to prevent any clashes.
The January 20th event, "Occupy the Courts" will be a one day occupation of Federal courthouses across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. The Seattle event will take place outside of the U.S. District Court at 700 Stewart Street, starting at 11:00 AM. It will include performances by the Total Experience Gospel Choir, the Raging Grannies, and theater and speeches by local community organizers.
The January 21st event, "People Ignited Against Citizens United" will begin with a noontime rally at Westlake Park featuring singer, songwriter Jim Page, Congressman Jim McDermott, author Sarah van Gelder, The Raging Grannies and more, followed by a march at 2 PM which will end at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, at 2nd Ave and Marion St.
The goal is to build grassroots support for a Constitutional amendment which includes language making it clear that corporations are not people, that they do not have the same rights as individual U. S. citizens, and that money does not equal free speech. The two days are a kick off of efforts to raise public awareness about the effect of very wealthy donors and corporations on our elections process, particularly at the federal level.
For more information, contact:
Craig Salins, craigsalins47@comcast.net (206) 949-3285
Syd Fredrickson, gogreen@usa.com 206-679-5342
Jonathan Tong, tongjm@comcast.net
Maureen Van Hollebeke maureenvanh@yahoo.com (206) 349-2447
------------------------------------------------------------------ ------
"Get the Money Out of Politics!"
Street Theater, Speakers, Musicians in front of the Federal Court in Tacoma
When: Friday, January 20, 2012
Time: Events begin at 2:30 PM and goes til 6:00 pm;
Evening event will be VERY moving; starting at about 5:30 at the Courthouse bring a small flashlight if you have one, or a candle in a jar [if it's not raining]
Where: Beginning at the Fireman's Park, 9th and A Streets, Tacoma, and proceeding to the Federal Courthouse, 1717 Pacific Ave.
Take the 15th St. exit off of 705; go right on 15th then immediate left on A to 9th.
Sponsors:
Mark your calendars!
This is a National Day of Action, involving 80 cities across the US.
The rally will be used to introduce the language of the Amendment ending Corporate Personhood and Money As Speech.
Two years ago this month, five Supreme Court justices, sworn to uphold the Constitution, voted to make democracy illegal. The infamous Citizens United decision removed all limits on independent spending for political purposes. As a result too many of our representatives are unresponsive to the people and instead are beholden only to the corporate dollars that got them elected.
We the People have to fight back!
Move to Amend Olympia is co-hosting with Occupy Tacoma a powerful event to GET THE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. We will unveil the "We the People" Amendment, setting forth once and for all that Corporations Are Not People and Money Is Not Speech!
The closing is "an incredible closing event in lights that will dazzle the human spirit," promises Linda Frank of WA Public Campaigns.
Jan 20th is the second anniversary of the devastating Supreme Court Citizens United decision that enables special interests -- including foreign governments -- to sway elections with money. Articles abound as to how that happened with the recent GOP Iowa Caucuses.
Guest Speakers confirmed for January 20th between 4 and 5:30 pm:
Times of the events are as follows:
2:30 Procession from Fireman’s Park at 9th and A Streets
3:30 Street Theater Events
4:00 Special Guest Speakers: See list above
5:30 The Luminescent Human Chain, connecting the Government to the People
If you've wondered about the history of Supreme Court decisions leading up to Citizens United, attend the workshop in the afternoon on January 17th at UWT. This information will also be woven into the evening workshop on January 19th at the St Leo Church.
The "We The People" Amendment
Section 1 [Corporations are not people and can be regulated]
The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only.
Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law.
The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.
Section 2 [Money is not speech and can be regulated]
Federal, State and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, for the purpose of influencing in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure.
Federal, State and local government shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed.
The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
Section 3
Nothing contained in this amendment shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.
------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National and local organizations actively promoting and participating in Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission 2 year anniversary events - partial list:Occupy Port Townsend
http://occupyporttownsend.org/
http://democracyisforpeople.org/
Free Speech For People:
http://freespeechforpeople.org/
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4741359
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SourceWatch
http://www.pdamerica.org/
http://www.thealliancefordemocracy.org/
Democracy Unlimited:
http://www.duhc.org/
Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution:
http://www.libertytreefdr.org/
http://www.poclad.org/
Washington Liberals:
http://waliberals.org/get-the-money-out-of-politics/2011/12/29/
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http://united4thepeople.org/
http://action.citizen.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/search.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=650&tag=cuvfecU4P
Sen. Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator from Vermont
I know that many of you are deeply concerned about the economy, health care, education, global warming and the environment, Social Security and Medicare, civil liberties, war and peace and the national debt. But here's an issue that's even more important because it encompasses all of these issues -- and much more.
Will the United States survive, in any significant way, as a democracy in which ordinary people can control their future? Or, will "democracy" simply become another commodity owned and controlled by billionaires and corporations in order to serve their own purposes?
Today, as a result of the absurd Citizens United Supreme Court decision, corporations and billionaires can spend unlimited sums of money, without disclosure, in political campaigns. And that is exactly what they're doing.
Karl Rove's American Crossroads has already pledged to spend at least $240 million in the elections of 2012. The extreme right-wing billionaire Koch brothers may be spending even more. And then there is Wall Street, the oil and coal corporations, the insurance and drug companies and the military-industrial-complex with all of their money.
The goal of the top 1 percent is simple. They will spend as much as it takes to elect candidates who support a right-wing corporate agenda. They will spend as much as it takes to defeat those candidates who are fighting for working families. And that's about it!
Please join me, Daily Kos and Democracy for America in pledging to fight to overturn Citizens United.
Our strategy must be equally simple. Short-term, we must do everything we can to support those progressive candidates in 2012 who are fighting for the middle class and the values we believe in. Long-term, we must overturn Citizens United and fight for real campaign finance reform which limits the power of big money.
Last month, I introduced a constitutional amendment, the Saving American Democracy bill, to overturn Citizens United. This amendment states that:
Corporations do not have the same constitutional rights as human beings.
The people have the right to regulate corporations.
Corporations are prohibited from making campaign contributions.
Congress and states shall have the power to set reasonable limits on election spending.
As we approach the second anniversary of the Citizens United decision, please join me, Daily Kos and Democracy for America in pledging to fight to overturn Citizens United and to counter the unlimited resources of the right-wing in 2012.
Your pledge of support today will show the Big Money interests that while they may have unlimited sums of money, we have something more important -- the power of the people. Your support could mean volunteering on local, state or national elections, organizing against Citizens United, donating to progressive candidates or running for office yourself.
Please pledge your support today. Please stand with us so that, together, we can transform American politics.
Sincerely,
-Bernie
Sen. Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator from Vermont
Immediately after the Citizens United v the Federal Election Commission decision, President Obama issued the following statement:
“With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power ev...ery day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans. This ruling gives the special interests and their lobbyists even more power in Washington — while undermining the influence of average Americans who make small contributions to support their preferred candidates. That's why I am instructing my Administration to get to work immediately with Congress on this issue. We are going to talk with bipartisan Congressional leaders to develop a forceful response to this decision. The public interest requires nothing less.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2012
City Council Passes Resolution Declaring that Corporations Are Not People
NEW YORK, NY — The Progressive Caucus of the City Council commends today’s passage of a resolution opposing the United States Supreme Court Citizens United decision, which gave corporations the same First Amendment rights as people. Progressive Caucus Members Brad Lander, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Steve Levin sponsored this resolution, with the entirety of the Progressive Caucus as co-sponsors. We thank Speaker Christine Quinn for her leadership on this important issue.
As our support of this resolution demonstrates, restoring confidence in government and strengthening democratic participation is a core principle of the Progressive Caucus. We believe that corporations should not share the same rights as people, that unlimited and unreported corporate donations meant to sway the electoral process should not be considered freedom of speech, and that the government should regulate the raising and spending of money by corporations intended to influence elections. We cannot allow corporate money to manipulate our democracy.
As Justice John Paul Stevens recognized in his dissent in the Citizens United decision, “corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help facilitate and structure the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their ‘personhood’ often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of ‘We the People’ by whom and for whom our Constitution was established.”
The Progressive Caucus supports this sentiment and urges Congress to take action to protect our democracy against corporate control and return the election process to the people.
Subject: Big News From Montana
First State in the Union to Limit Campaign Spending for state elections, in 1912, by state initative. Thank you MONTANA!
---- Original Message -----
From: Craig Salins To: Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 1:54 PM
WashClean and MoveToAmend friends...
HELENA - The Montana Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower court ruling and reinstated the state's century-old ban on direct spending by corporations for or against political candidates.
The justices ruled 5-2 in favor of the state's attorney general's
office and commissioner of political practices to uphold the
initiative passed by Montana voters in 1912.
Western Tradition Partnership, a conservative political group now
known as American Tradition Partnership, joined by Champion Painting Inc. and the Montana Shooting Sports Association Inc. had challenged the Montana ban after the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The U.S. Supreme Court decision granted political speech rights to corporations.
District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock of Helena ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court decision rendered the Montana ban unconstitutional.
But the Montana Supreme Court's majority saw it differently and
overturned Sherlock.
"Citizens United does not compel a conclusion that Montana's law
prohibiting independent political expenditures by a corporation
related to a candidate is unconstitutional," Chief Justice Mike
McGrath wrote for the majority. "Rather, applying the principles
enunciated in Citizens United, it is clear that Montana has a
compelling interest to impose the challenged rationally-tailored
statutory restriction."
The court held that corporations are not deprived of political speech by the Montana law.
They can form political committees, as many other groups have done, but must file reports disclosing where they raised their money and how they spent it. They also can hire legislative lobbyists.
"The many lobbyists and political committees who participate in each session of the Montana Legislature bear witness," the majority opinion said. "Under the undisputed fact here, the political committee is an easily implemented and effective alternative to direct corporate spending for engaging in political speech."
Joining McGrath in the majority were Justices Brian Morris, Patricia Cotter, Michael Wheat and Jim Rice.
Dissenting were Justices James Nelson and Beth Baker.
***
Nelson said the Montana court was required to follow the U.S. Supreme Court precedent and strike down the state ban, even though he adamantly disagreed with the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.
"In my opinion, District Judge Sherlock's well-reasoned and courageous - though politically unpopular - decision should be affirmed," Nelson wrote. "I cannot agree with this court's determination not to do so."
Baker said she would uphold only those provisions in state law to
ensure that independent corporate political expenses were properly reported and disclosed.
It was unclear Friday whether American Tradition Partnership would appeal Friday's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"We're reviewing our options," said Donald Ferguson, executive
director of the group. "We feel Montanans do not forfeit their
freedoms of speech and association simply because they associate as a corporation."
The Montana Supreme Court decision was a major victory for Attorney General Steve Bullock, who personally argued the case. He is a Democratic candidate for governor in 2012.
"We're really pleased with the decision and think it's based on solid
constitutional analysis, common sense and a clear understanding of our history and our current system of electing our state's leaders," Bullock said.
He said Montana has had a Corrupt Practices Law in place since 1912 and it has served Montana well.
"The Citizens United decision deals with federal laws and elections -
like those contests for president and Congress," Bullock said. "But
the vast majority of elections are held at the state or local level,
and this is the first case I am aware of that examines state laws and
elections."
***
McGrath's majority opinion is replete with references from books by Montana historians discussing successful efforts by the Copper Kings in Butte in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to control the state by influencing legislative and judicial decisions through bribes and applying political pressure on at least one governor.
"This naked corporate manipulation of the very government (governor and Legislature) of the state ultimately resulted in populist reforms that are still part of Montana law," McGrath wrote. "In 1906 the people voted to amend the state Constitution to allow for voter initiatives."
Shortly thereafter, Montanans used this initiative power to enact such reforms as primary elections to choose political candidates, the direct election of U.S. senators and the Corrupt Practices Act.
The opinion said evidence presented in District Court and not refuted by Western Tradition Partnership reveals that the group's purpose "is to act as a conduit of funds for persons and entities including corporations who want to spend money anonymously to influence Montana elections."
"WTP seeks to make unlimited expenditures in Montana elections from these anonymous funding sources," McGrath wrote.
He noted that Western Tradition Partnership also has filed separate
lawsuits challenging Montana's campaign spending laws and the
constitutionality of the state's political donation limits and its
disclosure requirements.
Elsewhere in the decision, the chief justice asked, "If the statue has
worked to preserve a degree of political and social autonomy is the
state required to throw away its protections because the shadowy
backers of WTP seek to promote their interests."
Missoulian State Bureau reporter Charles S. Johnson can be reached at
(406) 447-4066 or at chuck.john...@lee.net.
http://missoulian.com/news/local/supreme-court-upholds-state-ban-on-d...
[Montana] Supreme Court upholds state ban on corporation spending
http://m.billingsgazette.com/mobile/article_4c06a2e7-a088-58d8-9f8d-6...
People's Power League
100 Years Old on
June 11, 2011
The Vigilance of the Pen
The People's Power League formed in Deer Lodge Montana on June 11, 1911. Forty-one men from towns all over Montana adopted a straight-forward plan to assure that political power was returned to the citizens of the state. They would free themselves from the strangle-hold of megalithic corporations housed in New York and New Jersey by assuring the voter's right to nominate candidates in an open primary starting with the president and continuing down to local officials. Fairness would be guaranteed in campaigns and elections by barring corporate money from influencing the outcome.
The odds were against them. The Legislature was bought and paid for by the Amalgamated Copper Company. It would never pass the laws needed to implement the plan. Undaunted, the legal minds of the People's Power League drafted three Initiatives while the newspapermen went to work on 'public opinion.'
A Small Step for 1912, a Giant Step for a Century
By 1912, the Initiatives had all passed. Montanans would no longer be compliant citizens swallowing the corporate agenda hook, line and sinker. The self-absorbed corporate bosses back East and their corporate henchmen failed to see the tidal wave of indignation.
Read the following excerpts from the writings of these determined pioneers and you may understand why the Initiatives passed.
- "Campaigns were conducted by simply the opening of a barrel, and sowing the state from one end to the other with corporation money—the largest barrel winning in the end. This extravagant campaigning prevented the election of any but the wealthy or those supported by special interests."
E.H. McDowell, Terry Tribune (February 1910) - "The legitimate business interests, honest industry, equality before law, representative free government, and individual liberty, are being destroyed in the state of Montana through the operation and encroachments of law-violating corporate combines. A modern feudalism is being established through the subjugation of the people to the power of organized wealth controlled by non-residents, who have enlisted in their service an army of mercenaries and fortified these behind special legislation corruptly secured to administer government to the people of Montana. These influences have penetrated to every branch and department of government in Montana–state, county, city, and school district; judicial, executive, and legislative. They dominate both party political organizations, and dictate the selection of representatives in congress and national senate. Through authority of laws secured from the last legislative assembly of the state, these foreign forces are now engaged in perfecting a monopoly-combine with power and purpose to control in every form of industry or business which can be made lucrative."
J.C. Murphy, Montana Lookout (April 1910) - "Butte would be a bad place for the corporation to look for advocates of consolidation. We are consolidated and amalgamated to death. Some groups of financiers may be profiting by the operation, but out here in Butte we are playing the role of "goat' and it is far from a pleasant one."
Butte Daily News (July 1910)
The Montana Corrupt Practices Act
It's a delicate balancing act to pit freedom of speech against fair
elections. However, it can be done and Montana can lead the nation in finding a way.
The Corrupt Practices Act, 1912, State of Montana, as it pertains to
corporations:
Section 25. No corporation, and no person, trustee, or trustees
owning or holding the majority of the stock of a corporation carrying on the business of a bank, savings bank, cooperative bank, trust, trustees, surety, indemnity, safe deposit, insurance, railroad, street railway, telegraph, telephone, gas, electric light, heat, power, canal, aqueduct, water, cemetery, or crematory company, or any company having the right to take or condemn land or exercise franchise in public ways granted by the state or by any county, city or town, shall pay or contribute in order to aid, promote or prevent the nomination or election of any person, or in order to aid or promote the interests, success or defeat of any political party or organization. No person shall solicit or receive such payment of contribution from such corporation or such holder of a majority of such stock.
Section 50. In like manner as prescribed for the contesting of an
election, any corporation organized under the laws of or doing
business in the state of Montana may be brought into court on the
ground of deliberate, serious and material violation of the provisions of this act. The petition shall be filed in the district court in the county where said corporation has its principal office, or where the violation of law is averred to have been committed. The court, upon conviction of such corporation, may impose a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or may declare a forfeiture of the charter and franchises of the corporation if organized under the laws of this state, or if it be a foreign corporation may enjoin said corporation from further transacting business in this state, or by both such fine and forfeiture or by both such fine and injunction.
http://peoplespowerleague.info/about/about.htm
Move To Amend - Occupy The Courts - is now at over 100 Federal Couthouses nationwide, January 20th, 2012.
There are two great days of events in Seattle! ------
Get The Money Out of Politics - TWO days of action and educational events!
Move To Amend Occupies The Courts - Friday January 20th at the Federal Courthouse at 700 Stewart Street, entertainment, and speakers 11-2 .
People Ignited Against Citizens United - Saturday January 21st at Westlake Park at 4th and Pine, entertainment, speakers, and march to Federal Building, 12-4
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Raymond Roske
Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments
I agree with him, but he didn't consider reality into that equation.
Failure is not an option.
Failure is a given.
I found your comment on my site (americanpendulum) in the spam folder! So I am going to approve it shortly. I also will post your article that is here on my site, with links back. If you don't want that let me know.