Uprising
Protesters Prepare to Occupy the Courts
Move To Amend, a coalition dedicated to ending the "illegitimate legal doctrines that prevent the American people from governing [themselves]," is planning a one day occupation of federal courthouses Jan. 20 across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to mark the second anniversary of the Citizens United v. FEC decision.
Specifically, protesters are seeking a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens, and the group claims that protesters will be making that demand outside federal courthouses in over 110 cities.
New York's event, the "Resolution to End Corporate Personhood," approved by the NYC General Assembly of Occupy Wall Street, was scheduled to take place outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in the evening, culminating in a march and rally at Foley Square with speakers such as Russell Simmons, Reverend Billy, and Christopher Hedges.
The group hit a snag in planning almost immediately when the Government Services Administration (GSA) denied a protest permit requested by Jarret Wolfman, a member of the OWS subgroup to End Corporate Personhood. The reason given by the Acting National Relocation Counselor for the GSA, Wesley French, was a "morning citizenship swearing in, and a 4:00 p.m. installment of a federal judge."
Move To Amend countered immediately by filing a lawsuit Jan. 18 against the GSA via the National Lawyers Guild. In the meantime, organizers have temporarily changed the gathering location for the protest to Zuccotti Park.
"We have asked Gideon Oliver and the National Lawyers Guild to take whatever steps are necessary to legally challenge the GSA's transparent attempt to stop this protest from happening," said Stephen Justino, National Action Coordinator for Move to Amend's Occupy the Courts. "And, we support the decision by Jarret Wolfman, and the organizers of OTC - NYC, to temporarily change the gathering location for their protest from the Federal Courthouse to Liberty Plaza (Zuccotti Park) in order to guarantee that New Yorkers have the chance to participate in this important national day of action."
Occupy the Courts is part of a national backlash against the Citizens United decision. In Boulder, Colorado, voters approved Questoni 2H in November 2011, denying corporations personhood status, and Aurora residents also protested an effort by Gaylord Entertainment, a company seeking to build a massive new hotel complex, to gain the right to vote.
In Dec. 2011, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to support a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment that would assert corporations are not people, not entitled to constitutional rights, and that money is not the same as free speech. That resolution was backed by Move To Amend.
“Move to Amend’s proposed amendment would provide the basis for overturning the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission,” stated Mary Beth Fielder, Co-Coordinator of LA Move to Amend. “The Supreme Court has no legitimate right to grant people’s rights to corporations. We must clearly establish that it is we, The People, who are meant to rule.”
City Council President Eric Garcetti agrees with that sentiment, which is why he sponsored the resolution, remarking that "big special interest money" is behind much of the gridlock in Washington.
“The flood of money since Citizens United is literally drowning out our voices,” said Garcetti, who is running for mayor in 2013. “If we’re going to be moving forward in this country, we need less special interest money in the political process.”
Councilman Richard Alarcon, who also supported the resolution, said corporations are “trying to take over every aspect of our lives.”“
Corporations are at the wheel of America,” Alarcon said. “And they are driving us to destruction.”
Missoula, Montana, South Miami, Florida, and New York City have all voted to get rid of corporate personhood.
In NYC, Resolution 1172 formally expressed disapproval of Citizens, and urges Congress to take action against the decision that allows corporations to enjoy the same protections afforded to human beings.
The bill was sponsored by councilmembers Brad Lander, Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Steve Levin, members of the Progressive Caucus.
The group released the following statement after the vote:
"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."
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Comments
As part of the Occupy movement, I realize that getting corporate and billionaire money out of politics is key to getting a government for the 99% instead of the 1% who own most members of both parties of Congress right now. Tactically speaking, though, I feel the way to make the change is not to go back to many of the same corrupt incumbents who have been blocking real campaign finance reform and public campaign financing, and expect them to vote for a Constitutional Amendment that would regulate where a majority of their campaign donations come from. The way to get money out of politics is to use our social networks to replace bribe-inducing TV ads and elect pro-99% candidates who refuse corporate money and promise to vote to ban corporate campaign contributions. We need different politicians to pass different laws and create a system that works for the 99%. That’s why I like the ten “fresh democracy” candidates who launched this week with www.BeYourGovernment.org . We need hundreds like them. THEY will VOTE TO AMEND in January 2013. Not the corporate bought politicians we have in Congress now.
BeYourGovernment.org supports the important policy objective of the Move to Amend effort, to end the corruption of our political system by huge corporate donations. We feel that the most immediate and effective way of bringing about this essential change is for we, the people, to use our social and personal networks to become, and support, Congressional candidates who run without corporate money. A core transparency question for all candidates is whether they will vote for an end to corporate funding of campaigns, and public campaign financing. We believe that electing many new members of Congress who refuse corporate donations can help Move to Amend build a Congressional majority to get the buck out of the ballot once and for all.
As part of the Occupy movement, I realize that getting corporate and billionaire money out of politics is key to getting a government for the 99% instead of the 1% who own most members of both parties of Congress right now. Tactically speaking, though, I feel the way to make the change is not to go back to many of the same corrupt incumbents who have been blocking real campaign finance reform and public campaign financing, and expect them to vote for a Constitutional Amendment that would regulate where a majority of their campaign donations come from. The way to get money out of politics is to use our social networks to replace bribe-inducing TV ads and elect pro-99% candidates who refuse corporate money and promise to vote to ban corporate campaign contributions. We need different politicians to pass different laws and create a system that works for the 99%. That’s why I like the ten “fresh democracy” candidates who launched this week with www.BeYourGovernment.org . We need hundreds like them. THEY will VOTE TO AMEND in January 2013. Not the corporate bought politicians we have in Congress now.
BeYourGovernment.org supports the important policy objective of the Move to Amend effort, to end the corruption of our political system by huge corporate donations. We feel that the most immediate and effective way of bringing about this essential change is for we, the people, to use our social and personal networks to become, and support, Congressional candidates who run without corporate money. A core transparency question for all candidates is whether they will vote for an end to corporate funding of campaigns, and public campaign financing. We believe that electing many new members of Congress who refuse corporate donations can help Move to Amend build a Congressional majority to get the buck out of the ballot once and for all.
You cannot identify as a participant in OWS and at the same time, identify yourself as affiliated with an organization that seeks to get a particular set of candidates elected. If you endorse a candidate, you do that as an individual and not as an OWS participant representing any group of people within the movement.
See the Statement of Autonomy:
http://www.nycga.net/resources/statement-of-autonomy/
“We wish to clarify that Occupy Wall Street is not and never has been affiliated with any established political party, candidate or organization. Our only affiliation is with the people.
Any organization is welcome to support us with the knowledge that doing so will mean questioning your own institutional frameworks of work and hierarchy and integrating our principles into your modes of action.
SPEAK WITH US, NOT FOR US.
Occupy Wall Street values collective resources, dignity, integrity and autonomy above money. We have not made endorsements.
We acknowledge the existence of professional activists who work to make our world a better place. If you are representing, or being compensated by an independent source while participating in our process, please disclose your affiliation at the outset. Those seeking to capitalize on this movement or undermine it by appropriating its message or symbols are not a part of Occupy Wall Street.”