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Commemorate Constitution Day: Friday, September 17

Celebrate We the People • Condemn We the Corporations • Connect to Move to Amend

The US Constitution says “We the People,” not “We the Corporations.” Nowhere in the Constitution are corporations even mentioned—let alone protected and anointed with human rights to do virtually what they want, where they want, whenever they want politically, economically, socially or environmentally. 
 
Constitution Day, September 17, is a terrific opportunity to take this message to your school, your neighborhood, city or town, or your elected officials. Start now to do something – educate, advocate or organize—on that date to say and proclaim that constitutional rights belong to human beings, not corporations.
 
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC

COMING YOUR WAY: The March of the Monahans

On May 16, democracy activists Laird and Robin Monahan dipped hands and feet in the Pacific, and set out on foot from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Their goals: reach the Lincoln Memorial in Washington by mid October, and, most importantly, build grassroots awareness of the need to amend the Constitution to end corporate personhood along the way.

From: 
MovetoAmend.org
What's happening: 
Laird and Robin, who are both in their sixties, plan is to walk every day, weather and health permitting, camping along the way, and taking opportunities to connect with local groups, local government, and legislators. The walk is non-partisan, supporting, as Laird has written, “no political agenda save to restore the inalienable and Constitutional rights of human beings and the dominion of human citizens over corporations.” Laird and Robin spent the week before the walk going over logistics with MTA steering committee members at Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, plotting the best route, and making plans to connect with supporters along the way. Their first day on the road took them over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito—look for pictures soon on their website, www.lairdandrobin.org—we will also be updating you online at our special March of the Monahan Brothers pages.
  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • California
  • Colorado
  • District of Columbia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

Stop BP’s Corporate Abuse

From: 
MovetoAmend.org & Change.org
What's happening: 

No matter the issue, you can be certain that giant corporations are abusing our democracy for their own gain. The result? ‘We the people’ are in deep water when it comes to protecting ourselves and our country from corporate harms.

There’s no better example of corporate abuse than BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster, and they haven’t even started spending ‘big money’ on candidate campaigns yet. Rest assured, that will happen when, and if, Congress gets serious about plugging the holes in the regulatory process, and passing legislation to prevent more disasters like this one. The oil boys will land like a sledgehammer on any candidate calling for regulation -- or an end to offshore drilling -- as they exploit the Supreme Court’s recent Citizens United decision, which allows unlimited campaign spending by corporations.

  • Amending the Constitution
  • General

No right to racial discrimination!

SEE: http://movetoamend.org/warn-justice-no-corporate-racism

By now you've heard that the GOP's U.S. Senate candidate for Kentucky repeated his claim that a central piece of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was wrong, and that businesses should be free to discriminate against whomever they please. Rand Paul didn't seem to care that without federal intervention, people of color might still be second-class citizens in most aspects of American life.

From: 
Move to Amend
What's happening: 

Thanks to our friends at the civil rights organization, Color of Change, we now know that FOX contributor and business anchor John Stossel went even further than Paul and called for the section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that applies to business to be repealed. And he's refused to back down, saying that:

"It's time now to repeal that part of the law because private businesses ought to get to discriminate. And I won't ever go to a place that's racist and I will tell everybody else not to and I'll speak against them. But it should be their right to be racist."

  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement

Public Event with Riki Ott & David Cobb - Portland, OR

Date: 
March 2, 2010 (All day)

Riki Ott of Ultimate Civics and David Cobb of Democracy Unlimited -- Campaign to Legalize Democracy Coalition Partners -- speak about MoveToAmend.org and Corporate Personhood $5-20 dollars suggested admission

Location:
First Unitarian Church
SW 12th and Salmon
Portland, OR
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Oregon

Public Event with Riki Ott & David Cobb - Olympia, WA

Date: 
March 3, 2010 (All day)

Riki Ott of Ultimate Civics and David Cobb of Democracy Unlimited -- Campaign to Legalize Democracy Coalition Partners -- speak about MoveToAmend.org and Corporate Personhood.

Location:
Orca Books
509 East 4th Ave
Olympia, WA
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Washington

Seattle, WA Public Event

Date: 
March 5, 2010 - 3:00am

Location:
Labor Temple
2800 1st Ave
Seattle, WA
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Washington

Public Event with Riki Ott & David Cobb - Tacoma (Tillicum), WA

Date: 
March 6, 2010 - 3:00am

Riki Ott of Ultimate Civics and David Cobb of Democracy Unlimited -- Campaign to Legalize Democracy Coalition Partners -- speak about MoveToAmend.org and Corporate Personhood Coffee Strong 15109 Union Ave SW, Tillicum (right on the main drag, next door to the Subway)

Location:
Coffee Strong
15109 Union Ave SW
Tacoma (Tillicum), WA
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Washington

Public Workshop with Jeff Milchen - Oakland, CA

Date: 
March 7, 2010 (All day)

From Here to Democracy: Revoking Corporate Power and Building a Democracy Movement

Do you feel like you're struggling against problems caused by corporations, fighting one battle at a time, one after the other, without gaining ground overall? Can we make corporations "responsible?" Do you wonder where to focus your energy to the greatest effect? "From Here to Democracy" workshops are interactive small group (10-25 participants) who wish to grapple with illegitimate corporate power and corruption of democracy and seek to gain deeper understanding and tools for becoming more effective agents of change.

Location:
Oakland, CA
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • California

Public Event with Riki Ott & David Cobb - Corvallis, OR

Date: 
March 7, 2010 - 2:00am

Location:
Corvallis Public Library
645 NW Monroe
Corvallis, OR
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Oregon

Public Event with Riki Ott - Forest Grove, OR

Date: 
March 9, 2010 - 2:00am

Location:
Pacific University Taylor Auditorium
Marsh Hall 2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Oregon

Public Event with Riki Ott - Monterey, CA

Date: 
March 15, 2010 - 5:00pm

Riki Ott of Ultimate Civics, a Campaign to Legalize Democracy Coalition Partner, speaks about MoveToAmend.org and Corporate Personhood.

Location:
Montery, CA
See map: Google Maps
  • General

Public Event with Riki Ott - Santa Cruz, CA

Date: 
March 17, 2010 - 2:00am

Riki Ott of Ultimate Civics, a Campaign to Legalize Democracy Coalition Partner, speaks about MoveToAmend.org and Corporate Personhood.

Location:
Santa Cruz, CA
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • California

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: "We the Corporations?" Life & Law in the U.S.A. after Citizens United v. FEC

Date: 
April 16, 2010 (All day)

On January 21st, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. An avalanche of criticism from grassroots organizations, members of Congress, and the President of the United States followed. Hundreds of thousands of Americans signed motions calling for action to overrule the Court -- including amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Location:
University of Wisconsin Law School
975 Bascom Mall Room 5240
Madison, WI 53706
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Wisconsin

Stevens Point, WI: "Winning Democracy, with Ben Manski"

Date: 
May 4, 2010 - 1:00am - 3:00am

Can we pursue sustainability and social justice when corporations are allowed to control so much power and wealth? Ben Manski raises critical challenges facing our democracy. Better yet, he offers practical ways to solve them. Join him in learning more about the growing democracy movement in the United States, and the critical role students, educators, and local community activists are playing in that movement. Find out more about the campaign to overrule the Supreme Court's doctrine of "corporate personhood" and learn about the new wave of protests for education rights, voting rights, local democracy, a democratized defense, and much more.

Location:
Theater, Dreyfus University Center, UW-Stevens Point
1015 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Wisconsin

Community Action Meeting in Santa Fe, NM ~ Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap of Move To Amend to Facilitate ~ 6-8:30pm

Date: 
May 5, 2010 - 11:00pm - May 6, 2010 - 1:30am
THIS MEETING STARTS AT 6pm AND ENDS AT 8:30pm. APOLOGIES FOR WEBSITE PROBLEMS THAT INDICATED OTHERWISE. Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Executive Director of Democracy Unlimited - a founding coalition partner of the Campaign to Legalize Democracy/Move To Amend - will be in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday, May 5th for a community action meeting. The forum will focus on how residents of Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico can join the national movement against Corporate Personhood.Location:
Unitarian Church
107 West Barcelona Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • New Mexico

NC: Keeping Corporations from Buying Elections: Introduction to MovetoAmend.org

Date: 
May 14, 2010 - 11:00pm - May 15, 2010 - 1:00am

The North Carolina Green Party is holding their biannual Gathering on May 14th-15th. Our co-chair, George Friday (Coordinator of the Independent Progressive Politics Network), nationally known independent political activist and organizer, will speak about the Move to Amend project. Move to Amend was formed in response to the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that removed any remaining vestiges of a barrier to corporate influence on elections. The project seeks to build action, up to and including a constitutional amendment (or amendments) that clearly rejects the legal fiction of corporate personhood.

Hosted by the NC Green Party - no cost, refreshments provided

For more location information:

Location:
Greensboro Cultural Center
200 N Davie St
Greensboro, NC 27401
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • North Carolina

CONCORD: Democracy in the Balance

Date: 
May 19, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Forum II on the recent Supreme Court Decision in
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

A PUBLIC FORUM TO:

  1. Look at the historical highlights of government restrictions upon or expansion of corporate power since the founding of our nation.
  2. Learn about the broad constitutional amendments being offered by the MovetoAmend.org
  3. Hear what is happening in the Massachusetts legislature to redress the ruling allowing corporations to spend without control in our elections and what citizens can do to help further the process.


FORUM SPEAKERS:

Location:
First Parish in Concord - Church Hall
20 Lexington Rd
Concord, MA
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire

WI: Kickoff Meeting for Wisconsin Campaign

Date: 
May 24, 2010 - 5:30pm - May 25, 2010 - 7:00pm

This past January the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the right to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections. The Citizens United vs. FEC decision rests on the ideas that corporations are people, and that money is speech. Under these outrageous assumptions, the Supreme Court decided that any limit of corporate electoral spending was unconstitutional under the free speech protections of the First Amendment.

This Supreme Court decision strikes at the heart of our democracy. The U.S. Constitution is meant to protect real people, not corporations. If the Supreme Court can't understand this, then we need to amend the Constitution to make it clear that corporations are NOT people and money is NOT speech.

Location:
Science Hall (room 175)
550 North Park Street
Madison, WI 53706
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Wisconsin

Move to Amend at the U.S. Social Forum

Date: 
June 22, 2010 - 8:00am - June 27, 2010 - 12:00am

The US Social Forum (USSF) is a movement building process. It is not a
 conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the 
economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most important step in our
 struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational,
 diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country and
 changes history.

Move to Amend and its allies will be presenting many workshops at the U.S. Social Forum. Click on the title of each event for more information. Please join us!

Move to Amend coalition:

~ FRIDAY, JUNE 25 ~
Location:
U.S. Social Forum
1 Washington Boulevard Cobo Center
Detroit, MI 48226-4420
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Michigan
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Wisconsin

Move to Amend Ohio Tour (Youngstown)

Date: 
June 28, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

"Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule"
Move to Amend Ohio Speaking Tour with David Cobb

(Executive Committee Member, Move to Amend; Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD) principal; Green Party Presidential Candidate, 2004)

Cobb will discuss the growing national movement to amend the constitution to abolish corporate personhood and create real democracy.

Monday, June 28: Youngstown
7pm Evening Talk at Lemon Grove Cage - 122 West Federal

Contact: Dennis Spisak, 330-755-0729, spikespisak@aol.com

Location:
Lemon Grove Cage
122 West Federal
Youngstown, OH 44501
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Ohio

Move to Amend Ohio Tour (Columbus)

Date: 
June 29, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

"Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule"
Move to Amend Ohio Speaking Tour with David Cobb

(Executive Committee Member, Move to Amend; Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD) principal; Green Party Presidential Candidate, 2004)

Cobb will discuss the growing national movement to amend the constitution to abolish corporate personhood and create real democracy.

Tuesday, June 29: Columbus
7:00 PM, Talk, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd

Contacts: Doug Todd, dougsftc@yahoo.com; Karen Hansen, klh.ohio@gmail.com; Michael Greenman, 614-898-5825, mgreenman@wowway.com

Location:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus
93 W. Weisheimer Rd
Columbus, OH 43085
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Ohio

Move to Amend Ohio Tour (Athens)

Date: 
June 30, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

"Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule"
Move to Amend Ohio Speaking Tour with David Cobb

(Executive Committee Member, Move to Amend; Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD) principal; Green Party Presidential Candidate, 2004)

Cobb will discuss the growing national movement to amend the constitution to abolish corporate personhood and create real democracy.

Wednesday, June 30: Athens
7pm Evening talk at Christ-the-King Church, 75 Stewart St.

Contacts: John Howell, 740-592-5789, howell@frognet.net; Dick Hogan, 740-664-4028, greenfirecenter@gmail.com

Location:
Christ-the-King Church
75 Stewart St.
Athens, OH 45701
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Ohio

Move to Amend Ohio Tour (Wooster)

Date: 
July 1, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

"Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule"
Move to Amend Ohio Speaking Tour with David Cobb

(Executive Committee Member, Move to Amend; Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD) principal; Green Party Presidential Candidate, 2004)

Cobb will discuss the growing national movement to amend the constitution to abolish corporate personhood and create real democracy.

Thursday, July 1: Wooster
7:00 PM, Talk, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3186 Burbank Rd.

Contact: Dave Sears, 330-262-WNET (9638), RenDave@raex.com

Location:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
3186 Burbank Rd.
Wooster, OH 44691
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Ohio

Move to Amend Ohio Tour (Cleveland)

Date: 
July 2, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

"Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule"
Move to Amend Ohio Speaking Tour with David Cobb

(Executive Committee Member, Move to Amend; Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD) principal; Green Party Presidential Candidate, 2004)

Cobb will discuss the growing national movement to amend the constitution to abolish corporate personhood and create real democracy.

Friday July 2: Cleveland
7:00 PM, Talk, Unitarian Universalist Society, 2728 Lancashire Rd., Cleveland Heights

Contacts: Lois Romanoff, 216-231-2170, loisromanoff@gmail.com; Greg Coleridge, 330-928-2301 gcoleridge@afsc.org

Location:
Unitarian Universalist Society
2728 Lancashire Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44105
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Ohio

Move to Amend Ohio Tour (Akron)

Date: 
July 3, 2010 - 10:00am - 12:30pm

"Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule"
Move to Amend Ohio Speaking Tour with David Cobb

(Executive Committee Member, Move to Amend; Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (POCLAD) principal; Green Party Presidential Candidate, 2004)

Cobb will discuss the growing national movement to amend the constitution to abolish corporate personhood and create real democracy.

Saturday July 3: Akron
10:00 AM, Talk, Maple Valley Branch Public Library, 1187 Copley Rd., Akron

Contact: Mary Nichols-Rhodes, 330-957-6167, pdaohio@gmail.com; Greg Coleridge, 330-928-2301, gcoleridge@afsc.org

Location:
Maple Valley Branch Public Library
1187 Copley Rd.
Akron, OH 44301
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Ohio

March in Wellfleet, Massachusetts with We the People V. Corporate Rule

Date: 
July 5, 2010 - 8:00am - 11:00am

The anti-corporate personhood group "We the People v. Corporate Rule" makes its public debut this Fourth of July weekend in Wellfleet, where we'll be marching in the town's Independence Day parade.

If you'd like to be a part of raising the visibility of corporate rule, the Citizens United decision and the need for a constitutional amendment denying corporations personhood rights, please join us!

Location:
Mac's Shack
Commercial Street
Wellfleet, MA 02667
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Massachusetts

Challenging Corporate Rule, Creating Democracy Workshop

Date: 
July 10, 2010 - 10:30am - 5:30pm

Why Do Corporations Have More Rights Than You Do?

Hosted by Democracy Unlimited, Move to Amend Coalition Partner.

Location:
The Duck House
1402 M Street
Eureka, CA 95501
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • California

MEETING: South Central WI Move to Amend

Date: 
July 12, 2010 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm

You can view documents related to the meeting and RSVP through the MeetUp site, at http://www.meetup.com/south-central-wisconsin-move-to-amend/

I. Introductions and Announcements

II. Approval of Minutes

III. Resolution Subcommittee Findings and Discussion
Kaja, Andy, Mindy, Sam, Jennifer, and Willy met to discuss possible wording for our resolution initiative, which hopes to get a resolution on the April ballot in the City of Madison. A *partial* summary of their discussion is summarized below:
The Subcommittee identified three goals of the resolution campaign:
To educate the community
To pass the resolution with the largest possible number of votes
To build our organization and its contacts with the community

Location:
Ebling Library
750 Highland Avenue Room 3330
Madison, WI
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Wisconsin

Texas Tour: Waco

Date: 
August 9, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 mas o menos/more or less - no one turned away for lack of cash!

For more info call 713-705-5594.

Location:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waco
4209 27th St.
Waco, TX 76708
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Texas

CHICAGO: Fight Corporate Corruption Rally

Date: 
August 10, 2010 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Location:

Join the Liberty Tree Foundation's Ben Manski, Center for Media and Democracy's Lisa Graves, both spokespeople for the Move to Amend coalition, and The Other 98% to fight corporate corruption in politics and expose candidates who won't join the fight! Bring your passion to the Rally. All are welcome!

Location:
Thompson Center Plaza
100 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60647
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Citizens United v. FEC

MIDDLETON: Fight Corporate Corruption Rally

Date: 
August 10, 2010 - 4:30pm - 7:30pm

Join the Liberty Tree Foundation's Ben Manski, Center for Media and Democracy's Lisa Graves, both spokespeople for the Move to Amend coalition, and The Other 98% to fight corporate corruption in politics and expose candidates who won't join the fight! Bring your passion to the Rally. All are welcome!

Location:
Lakeview Park Middleton, WI
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Wisconsin

Texas Tour: San Antonio

Date: 
August 11, 2010 - 5:30pm - 9:30pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Doors 5:30pm/ music & poetry 6pm / dialogue 7pm 

Entertainment: MCs Chuck Robinson of OxyMorons & Tiffany Ross, Chris Gavito, Anthony the Poet, Michele Simpson.

Location:
Josephine Theatre
339 W. Josephine St.
San Antonio, TX 78212
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Texas

WI: Formative Meeting for NW Wisconsin Chapter w/Ben Manski

Date: 
August 11, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Corporations aren't people? Money isn't speech? Lots of people in northwest Wisconsin agree. We want to form a northwest regional chapter of the new Wisconsin chapter of Move to Amend. Join us, and our guest speaker, the attorney and pro-democracy advocate, Ben Manski, at our first meeting!
 

Location:
Infinitea Teahouse
112 E. Grand Avenue
Eau Claire, WI
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Minnesota
  • Wisconsin

Texas Tour: Dallas/Ft. Worth

Date: 
August 12, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 mas o menos/more or less - no one turned away for lack of cash!

For more info call 713-705-5594.

Location:
Veggie Garden Restaurant
516 W. Arapahoe
Richardson, TX 75080
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Texas

Texas Tour: Austin

Date: 
August 13, 2010 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 mas o menos/more or less - no one turned away for lack of cash!

For more info call 713-705-5594.

Location:
Millenium Youth Center
1156 Hargrave Street
Austin, TX 78702
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Texas

Rally in St. Louis with the Monahan Brothers

Date: 
August 22, 2010 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Come out, make some noise for democracy, be inspired and inspire your neighbors, too! Join Laird and Robin Monahan and local democracy activists for a rally at the Waterfall, St. Louis Citygarden. Citygarden is located in downtown St. Louis, between 8th Street to the east and 10th Street to the west, and Chestnut Street to the north and Market Street to the south. For driving, parking and public transportation directions, visit this page on the Citygarden website. 

For info, contact Riley at riley-gardam@uiowa.edu.

Location:
The Waterfall, St. Louis Citygarden
S 8th and Market Streets
St. Louis, MO
See map: Google Maps
  • Missouri

Maine Tour - Brunswick

Date: 
August 23, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Sponsors: Merry Meeting Greens, PeaceWorks, WILPF

For more info call Rosie Paul at 371-2077

Location:
Frontier Cafe. Cinema and Gallery
Box 10, Suite 0321, 14 Maine St - Fort Andross
Brunswick, ME 04011
See map: Google Maps
  • Maine

Maine Tour - Ellsworth

Date: 
August 24, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Sponsors: Alliance for Democracy

Location:
Ellsworth Public Library
20 State Street
Ellsworth , ME 04605
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Maine

Veterans for Peace - 25th Anniversary

Date: 
August 25, 2010 - 10:00am - August 29, 2010 - 6:00pm

Mark your calendars now for the 2010 Convention, which will celebrate VFP’s 25th anniversary and look ahead to the unfinished work of promoting peace and progressive politics in a time of global war and economic retrenchment.  The meeting will be held from August 25-29 and, fittingly, in Maine, the birthplace of Veterans For Peace in 1985.  Portland, Maine, a vibrant, beautiful coastal city located on a peninsula in Casco Bay, will be the host city for the Convention under  the sponsorship of VFP Chapters 1 and 3. 

Friday, August 27th

Plenary 1 - Michael McPhearson

Plenary 2 - David Cobb

Location:
Holiday Inn - By the Bay
88 Spring Street
Portland, ME 04101
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Maine

Maine Tour - Belfast Potluck

Date: 
August 25, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Sponsors: Monroe Self-Government

For more info call Martha Goodale 525-3532

Location:
Belfast Library
106 High St.
Belfast, ME 04915
See map: Google Maps
  • Maine

Maine Tour - Rockland

Date: 
August 25, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Sponsors: Midcoast Peace and Justice

Location:
Rockland Unitarian Universalist Church
345 Broadway
Rockland, ME 04841
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Maine

Ballard Brain Trust on Corporate Personhood

Date: 
August 26, 2010 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Ballard Brain Trust will discuss the important questions:

 

Corporations, Are they People?

and

Who Should Run the Government, the People or Corporations?

Location:
Ballard Public Library
5614 22nd Avenue Northwest Library Meeting Room
Seattle, WA 98107
See map: Google Maps
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Washington

Maine Tour - Saco

Date: 
August 26, 2010 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Sponsors: The Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco and Biddeford

For more info call Tarik Sivonen 229-3275

Location:
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco and Biddeford
60 School Street
Saco, ME 04072
See map: Google Maps
  • Maine

WI: Meet the Monahans

Date: 
August 27, 2010 - 11:00am - 6:00pm

Brothers Laird and Robin Monahan are walking across America to mobilize support for ending corporate personhood and amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United v. FEC. Meet the Monahan Brothers in Madison!

  • Meet, greet, and rally with them at 11am on Friday, August 27th, in the Assembly Parlor of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
  • Then join them later that day for a reception at 4:30pm at Brocach Irish Pub on the Capitol Square (7 W. Main Street).

No cover. 608~257~1606

Location:
Wisconsin State Capitol Madison, WI 53706
See map: Google Maps
  • General
  • March of the Monahan Brothers
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Wisconsin

Maine Tour - Portland - Speaking with Emma's Revolution

Date: 
August 29, 2010 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Sponsors: Peace Action Maine

Location:
Meg Perry Center
644 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Maine

Interview with a Corporate Person - Political Theater by Colorado MoveToAmend

Date: 
September 9, 2010 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm

To commemorate the infamous SCOTUS decision to “hear arguments” in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, Colorado Move To Amend will feature “Interview with a Corporate Person” by Jan Edwards of the national Move To Amend coalition.

This is an open event. All are invited.

For more information contact Michael Melio at michael@CoMoveToAmend.org

Location:
Colorado State Capitol, West Steps
200 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Colorado

Media appearances for David Cobb's Florida Tour

Date: 
September 9, 2010 - 1:00pm - September 17, 2010 - 12:00pm
Thursday, Sept. 9:
1-1:30PM
WLRN, Topical Currents, with Joseph Cooper
First half of program
On radio at 91.3, or on web at http://wlrn.org/.
Click on Listen Now or go directly to: http://live.friendsofwlrn.org/
 
Thurs, Sept 16 
1-1:30pm
Rob Lorei Show
WMNF Radio
http://www.wmnf.org
 
Fri, Sept 17
9am
Surreal News
WSLR 96.5 LP FM in Sarasota
Location:
FL
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Florida

Miami: Community Dialogue with David Cobb: The growing U.S. pro-democracy movement

Date: 
September 12, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Steve Showen, steve@mdgp.org, 305-573-2909

 

Location:
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami
7701 SW 76th Ave.
Miami, FL
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Florida

Florida Tour - West Palm Beach

Date: 
September 14, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Milo Vannucci joyous111@att.net  561-315-2557

Location:
First Unitarian Church
635 Prosperity Farms Rd.
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Florida

Public Forum & Founding Meeting of KC MoveToAmend Coalition

Date: 
September 15, 2010 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Frankenstein's Monster in America: The Astonishing History of Corporate Personhood (a 20 minute Power Point presentation) will be followed by group discussion & decisions regarding actions to advance the movement for a constitutional amendment to abolish Corporate Personhood.

Location:
Plaza Library -- Large Meeting Room
4801 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
See map: Google Maps
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Missouri

Florida Tour - Boca Raton

Date: 
September 15, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

Location:
St. Andrews Estate South
6045 Verde Trail S.
Boca Raton, FL 33433
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Florida

Florida Tour - Melbourne

Date: 
September 16, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Jayne King jaynenote@yahoo.com 954-232-2139

Location:
UU West Melbourne
2185 Meadowlane Ave.
West Melbourne, FL 32904
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Florida

Florida Tour - Ormond Beach

Date: 
September 17, 2010 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm

 Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact carlaormand@gmail.com 386-677-1176 

Location:
Ormond Beach Unitarian Universalist Society of the Daytona Beach Area
56 N. Halifax Drive
Ormond Beach, FL
See map: Google Maps
  • Florida

Florida Tour - Gainesville - Media Reception and Show

Date: 
September 17, 2010 - 5:30pm - 9:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Michael Canney alachuagreen@gmail.com (386) 418 3791

Location:
702 Northwest 38th St.
Gainesville, FL 32607
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Florida

Florida Tour - Sarasota

Date: 
September 18, 2010 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Kindra Muntz kindramuntz@verizon.net 508-564-6208

Location:
UU Church of Sarasota
3975 Fruitville Rd.
Sarasota, FL 34232-1614
See map: Google Maps
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Florida

Florida Tour - Tampa

Date: 
September 18, 2010 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Anita Stewart: anitamstewart@yahoo.com,  813-312-2292

 


 

Location:
John F Germany Library
900 N Ashley Dr.
Tampa , FL 33602
See map: Google Maps
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Florida

Florida Tour - Orlando

Date: 
September 19, 2010 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Let's Declare Our Independence from Corporate Rule!

David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States.

He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.

Suggested donation of $10 more or less - none turned away for lack of cash!

For more info contact Scott R. Tess, 321-230-8691, scotttess@hotmail.com; Atarah Dove 407-415-3366,  atarahdove8@gmail.com

Location:
Main Public Library
101 East Central Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32801-2429
See map: Google Maps
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Florida

Democracy Convention

Date: 
August 24, 2011 - 9:00am - August 28, 2011 - 5:00pm

WI State CapitolPlan to participate in the first national Democracy Convention. Join us in one of the U.S.A.'s most progressive cities for a gathering like few others. More than a conference, this convention will house multiple conferences at the same time.

If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something useful and inspiring at the 2011 Democracy Convention.

 

Location:
Madison, WI 53703
See map: Google Maps
  • Read more
  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Wisconsin

GERLING: Lakoff and Westen Miss the Constitutional Elephant in the Room

September 3, 2010
By: 
Kelly Gerling
Progressive Revolution

Professor Drew Westen wrote an article on Huffington Post about the coming election that gained the attention of Professor George Lakoff. Westen’s article is called: What Created the Populist Explosion and How Democrats Can Avoid the Shrapnel in November.

More Info: 

Kelly Gerling has over three decades of experience as a change agent in many roles, including as a counselor, hypnotherapist, marriage and family therapist, life coach, mediator, workshop leader, leadership facilitator, NLP trainer, public speaker, and writer.

  • Read more
  • General
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Building a Democracy Movement

OTT: Hide and Leak

August 25, 2010
By: 
Riki Ott
Earth Island Journal

On July 15, BP managed to finally seal its broken Macondo wellhead and stop the oil that had been hemorrhaging into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days. The very next week, as I was driving up the Florida coast, locals kept pointing out to me where cleanup workers were packing up and pulling out. From Crawfordville through to Carrabelle, and Port St. Joe to Pensacola, the booms were disappearing, the crew tents folded up and removed from beaches.

The well had been capped, after all. The gusher had stopped. Game over. Everyone can go home, right?

Not even close. If all goes according to plan, the relief well should provide a more permanent fix. But that hasn’t been the nature of this disaster. Every time BP thought it had the solution, something somehow went wrong. At the time of this writing, at least one oil seep had sprung in the ocean floor near the well as the pressure from the plug found other releases; methane, too, looked to be leaking. And BP was, once again, dodging the government’s requests for more monitoring.

More Info: 

Riki Ott is author of Not One Drop (Chelsea Green, 2008) and director of Ultimate Civics, a project of Earth Island Institute, and a steering committee member of MoveToAmend.org.

  • Read more
  • General
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Louisiana

TRUTHDIG: Fox and Friends Trying to Bully and Buy Their Way Back to Power

August 24, 2010
By: 
Bill Boyarsky
Truthdig

Fox News and its boss, Roger Ailes, along with Karl Rove and unlimited corporate campaign contributions, pose an enormous threat to President Barack Obama and Democratic candidates this fall.

Although they may not be working in tandem, they pursue common goals: Republicans winning control of Congress in 2010, defeating Obama two years later and restoring conservative business-first Republican policies.

To understand Fox’s importance, think of it as a political campaign rather than a news operation.

  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC

NYC Public Advocate website tracks corporate campaign spending pledges

August 20, 2010
By: 
Barbara Clancy, Alliance for Democracy

In his position as Public Advocate for the City of New York, Bill de Blasio acts as an ombudsman between city residents and city government. Ensuring the accountability of elected officials to the public is his job, and to his credit he sees the influence of corporate money in politics as a real threat to the public good.

In a recent piece in The Nation, he writes that the GOP block of the DISCLOSE Act, 90 days before the midterm elections, compels us "to fight back and take on corporations directly."

De Blasio's response has been to demand through his office that individual corporations pledge not to spend money on campaigns. Negotiations with Goldman Sachs led to the banking and securities group agreeing to forgo spending corporate cash directly in elections; talks are now on with Google. And as a resource for public activism, the office has created a website that lists the US's 100 largest companies, and their public stands on campaign spending.

  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • New York

COLLINS: My Favorite August

August 16, 2010
By: 
by Gail Collins
The New York Times

 

The story in American history I most like to tell is the one about how women got the right to vote 90 years ago this month. It has everything. Adventure! Suspense! Treachery! Drunken legislators!
 
But, first, there was a 70-year slog.
 
Which is really the important part. We always need to remember that behind almost every great moment in history, there are heroic people doing really boring and frustrating things for a prolonged period of time.
  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Corporate Campaign Fundraising Picks Up Speed

August 11, 2010
By: 
Laura Bonham, Progressive Democrats of America

In an August 2 Los Angeles Times story, writer Tom Hamburger from the Times Washington Bureau reports that business and conservative groups are preparing to spend significant sums of money to defeat Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.  Recent rulings by the Supreme Court allow unlimited spending by corporations and unions for some electioneering activities.

 
The Chamber of Commerce is just one organization that plans to use their newly acquired personhood rights:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest collection point for corporate contributions, has increased its spending for the congressional election in November from $35 million in 2008 to a projected $75 million this year. Officials say it may go even higher.
 
  • Read more
  • Citizens United v. FEC

VIDEO: MoveOn 'Stand for Democracy' Rally in Chicago

August 10, 2010

This August 10 rally in Chicago was just one of hundreds of "Stand for Democracy" events organized across the country by MoveOn.org to speak out against corporate control of our political system.

  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Illinois

SUZY KHIMM: Are the Corporate Money Floodgates About to Open?

August 2, 2010
By: 
Suzy Khimm
Mother Jones

 

In the months immediately following the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, corporations seemed to be sitting on the sidelines instead of delving directly into the campaign finance free-for-all that the decision opened up. Instead, it was labor unions that leapt to take advantage of the lifted restrictions, outspending  corporations on independent campaign ads by nearly threefold in the first six months of 2010. But now there's mounting evidence that some of the nation's most visible and powerful corporations have entered the fray.
 
  • Read more
  • Citizens United v. FEC

YES! MAGAZINE: Real People v. Corporate “People”: The Fight Is On

June 8, 2010
By: 
Doug Pibel
Yes! Magazine

In 2009, Riki Ott was on the road for 252 days educating people about the dangers of “corporate personhood.” That’s the legal doctrine that says corporations have constitutional rights, just like human beings. She mostly spoke in academic settings, and there was some interest in the idea, says Ott, but not much.

All that changed on January 21, 2010, when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Now interest has skyrocketed, and Ott finds people eager to volunteer, to organize, to meet, to do anything to reverse the Court’s decision.

More Info: 

Doug Pibel wrote this article for Water Solutions, the Summer 2010 issue of YES! Magazine. Doug, managing editor of YES! Magazine, spent many years as an attorney. This article incorporates original material from David Cobb.

Read more:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: Read the full text of the decision.

Recovering from Citizens United: Read updates on how we can get our democracy back.

  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Citizens United v. FEC

MONTGOMERY COUNTY ADVERTISER: Alabama needs constitutional reform

June 4, 2010
By: 
Editorial in the Montgomery County Advertiser

More Info: 

Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform http://www.constitutionalreform.org/

  • Read more
  • General
  • Alabama

LAHONTAN VALLEY NEWS: Brothers bring awareness to corporate personhood

June 3, 2010
By: 
Steve Ranson
Lahontan Valley News

Minnesota brothers Laird and Robin Monahan are walking across the United States to warn citizens about corporations assuming more human characteristics in what may be considered a power grab of the Constitution

They arrived in Fallon earlier this week after beginning their journey in mid-May from San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. By following U.S. Highway 50, the Lincoln Highway, they hope to reach Washington, D.C. in mid to late-October.

The 69-year-old Laird and 67-year-old Robin said their disappointment occurred earlier this year on Jan. 21 when the U.S, Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Committee to allow corporations the same rights as people and to spend as much money as they want on candidates.

More Info: 

March of the Monahan Brothers

  • Read more
  • General
  • March of the Monahan Brothers
  • Understanding the Corporation

National meeting builds Move to Amend coalition

May 20, 2010
By: 
Barbara Clancy

Steering Committee members from seventeen organizations across the country came together in Denver at the end of April to discuss the principles and goals of the Move to Amend campaign, and to develop working committees and strategic planning for the next months of the campaign.

  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Colorado

COLERIDGE: The Biology of Oil and the Sociology of Democracy

May 19, 2010
By: 
Greg Coleridge
Op-Ed News

A few weeks ago I met Riki Ott at the Move to Amend/Campaign to Legalize Democracy national gathering in Denver. We were among two dozen people who came together to begin to develop plans to end corporate rule and abolish corporate personhood.

Ott is a marine biologist and toxicologist from Alaska who became socially and politically active following the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster which spilled millions of gallons of oil in Prince William Sound. Ott documented the environmental disaster of the spill and its impact on people and communities. She began speaking out. She wrote books. She was widely interviewed. She was involved in litigation.

More Info: 

Greg Coleridge is the Director of the Economic Justice & Empowerment Program of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker social action organization (AFSC.net); Steering Committee member of Move to Amend (MovetoAmend.org) a member of the Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy (POCLAD), a collective which instigates democratic conversations and actions that contest the authority of corporations to govern (POCLAD.org)

  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC

PRICE: Pair walks country for a cause

May 19, 2010
By: 
Nancy Price
Davis Enterprise

A pair of brothers who are walking across America to protest what they call 'the legal fiction that corporations are persons with constitutional rights' will be in Davis on Wednesday.

Robin Monahan, 67, and his brother Laird, 69, will be at the Farmers' Market beginning at 4:30 p.m. They left San Francisco on Saturday and will set off for Sacramento on Thursday morning.

The Monahans are walking the old Lincoln Highway to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., hoping to arrive by Election Day, Nov. 2. Their progress can be tracked online at http://lairdandrobin.org.

Local residents are invited to meet and talk with them Wednesday and sign the new 'Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule.'

  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • California

AMMORI: Citizens United: Does Elena Kagan Disagree With Barack Obama On Corporate Speech?

May 9, 2010
By: 
Marvin Ammori
Huffington Post

 

In that article, she discusses two cases, Austin (later overruled by Citizens United) and Turner (which I'll explain here). To understand legal arguments, you have to know the cases discussed, as lawyers think in cases. If a lawyer says she supports Roe v. Wade and opposes Lochner v New York, you know what she means if you know those cases. So let me explain the relevant cases here.
 
Citizens United, Austin, and Corporate Campaign Expenditures
In Citizens United, the Supreme Court famously held that the government could not limit campaign expenditures from the general treasuries of corporations in the immediate run-up to an election. It was a 5-4 decision along the Court's now-usual conservative-liberal split. Citizens United overruled another decision (which had upheld limits on such corporate expenditures) called Austin (decided 1990).
 
  • Read more
  • Citizens United v. FEC

ROTHSCHILD: Corporations Aren't Persons

April 20, 2010
By: 
Matthew Rothschild

ON FEBRUARY 16, ABOUT 200 people gathered on the steps of the Wisconsin state capitol. “It’s fitting that we stand out in the cold,” said Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

“That’s where the Supreme Court has left us.”

He was referring to the court’s recent decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which granted corporations the right to spend unlimited funds on so-called independent expenditures to influence the outcome of elections. The crowd heartily agreed with McCabe. Signs said: “No Corporate Takeover of Elections,” “Free Speech, Not Fee Speech,” “Money Is Not Speech, Corporations Are Not Persons.” And a chant went up: “Overrule the Court.”

More Info: 

Matthew Rothschild is the editor of The Progressive magazine.

  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC

OTT: The Corporations Are Coming! The Corporations Are Coming!

March 16, 2010
By: 
Riki Ott

Alaska-Colorado-California-Oregon-Washington -- Three-plus weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out limits on corporate spending in political campaigns in Citizens United v. FEC, an ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 80% of Americans oppose the Court's ruling, including 65% who "strongly" oppose it. A whopping 72% want legislative action to overrule the Court and reinstate the campaign limits.

More Info: 

Riki Ott and David Cobb are national spokespeople for The Campaign to Legalize Democracy (www.movetoamend.org), a coalition of national and grassroots groups calling to amend the Constitution to abolish the legal doctrine that allows corporations to claim constitutional rights. Ott is a survivor of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Her story of personal and community healing is shared in Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (Chelsea Green, 2008) (www.ultimatecivics.org). Cobb is a principal with the Program on Corporations Law & Democracy (www.poclad.org) and Campaigns Director for Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (www.duhc.org). He can be reached directly at 707-269-0984 or david@duhc.org.

  • Read more
  • General

MANSKI AND GRAVES: Corporations are People Too

March 2, 2010
By: 
Ben Manski and Lisa Graves

n Citizens United v. FEC, five justices on the U.S. Supreme Court have decided that corporations are free to invest in the outcomes of elections, and that the federal government must shelter them against the will of the people.

As far as those five justices are concerned, their decision is final. It is not. There is a higher authority on whose bench every U.S. citizen serves: We the People. The Constitution is our national charter and belongs in our stewardship; the courts, corporations, and all the instruments of government must give way to the American people.

The Citizens United majority clothed its decision in the language of our First Amendment: Corporations belong to a class of “disadvantaged persons” entitled to free speech rights.

More Info: 

Ben Manski is executive director of the Liberty Tree Foundation and practices law with Manski Law & Communications, LLC. He is on the executive committee of MovetoAmend.org.

Lisa Graves is the executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy, the publisher of SourceWatch.org and PRWatch.org. She was deputy assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice and is on the executive committee of MovetoAmend.org

  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC

KORTEN: 10 Ways To Stop Corporate Dominance Of Politics

February 25, 2010
By: 
Fran Korten
Yes! Magazine

The recent US Supreme Court decision to allow unlimited corporate spending in politics just may be the straw that breaks the plutocracy’s back. Pro-democracy groups, business leaders, and elected representatives are proposing mechanisms to prevent or counter the millions of dollars that corporations can now draw from their treasuries to push for government action favorable to their bottom line. The outrage ignited by the Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission extends to President Obama, who has promised that repairing the damage will be a priority for his administration.

  • Amending the Constitution
  • General

HOFF: Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County responds to Supreme Court

February 25, 2010
By: 
Chris Hoff
Arcata Eye

More Info: 

Move To Amend

Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County

Original article here...

  • Read more
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General
  • California

HIGHTOWER: Fighting the Subversion of Our People's Sovereignty

February 24, 2010
By: 
Jim Hightower

As you've probably heard, corporations are now "people" — humanoids that are equivalent to you and me. This miraculous metamorphosis happened on Jan. 21. Accompanied by a blinding bolt of lightning, and a terrifying jolt of thunder, five Dr. Frankensteins on the Supreme Court threw a judicial switch that endowed these pulseless paper entities with the human right to speak politically.

More Info: 

National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.

MoveToAmend.org

FreeSpeechForPeople.org

FixCongressFirst.org

  • Read more
  • General
  • Citizens United v. FEC

MURPHY: Locals look to organize movement to abolish corporate personhood

February 23, 2010
By: 
Myles Murphy

A recent Supreme Court decision extending the rights of corporations has some locals and grassroots organizers concerned.

"There's a little buzz around the country about this Supreme Court decision," said Wes Brain of Southern Oregon Jobs for Justice, one of the organizers of a public meeting Thursday billed as a chance for Ashlanders to "join the movement to abolish corporate personhood" in the wake of the decision.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled a lower court's decision not to allow advertising and distribution of a 90-minute movie criticizing Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primary campaign. Before being overturned, an earlier court said the movie must be regulated like a campaign ad.

More Info: 

This article originally appeared in the Ashland Daily Tidings

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  • Oregon

UCONN: Students call for reforms over 'corporate personhood'

February 23, 2010
By: 
Jay Polansky

Think of the name of your favorite corporation. Then add a “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or “Ms.” before it.

As a result of a recent United States Supreme Court decision, corporations have been granted free speech – a key right of personhood – creating contention in the campus and political communities.

“This egregious decision turns back the clock on over 60 years of precedent,” said Jenn Hatch, a ConnPIRG associate, in a press release.

More Info: 

Jay Polanski is a student at the University of Connecticut.

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C.L. COOK: Interview with Riki Ott of Campaign to Legalize Democracy

February 22, 2010
By: 
C.L. Cook, Gorilla Radio

Last month, the United States Supreme Court ruled; 2nd Amendment rights must be applied fully to corporations. Corporations , you may recall, are not faceless, conscienceless business entities, but are "living" entities, entitled under law to many of the rights accorded to humans. so it has been the many long years since the idea to manufacture, whole cloth from the language of the law the power to, if not creat life itrself, then the ability to incorporate within a business or common concern the privileges known to the living. Until recently, those privileges fell short of the Free Speech provisions of the American Constitution; but no more.

More Info: 

C.L. Cook is a Victoria, B.C. based activist, radio host, writer and editor.
Gorilla Radio website here...

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  • Amending the Constitution
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  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement

MANSKI - MCCABE - GRAVES: 'Overrule the Court' Rally in Madison

February 16, 2010

About 200 people came to the state Capitol in Madison to say "No!" to the Supreme Court's ruling invalidating all legal limits on corporate spending in elections.

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  • Amending the Constitution
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  • Citizens United v. FEC
  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Wisconsin

MANSKI: Supreme Court's decision creates an American crisis

February 13, 2010
By: 
Ben Manski

Unhinged. Absurd. Outrageous.

That's how you could describe the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in “Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission.” Unfortunately, the decision was much, much worse than that.

How much worse?

You might have some idea if you've ever found yourself facing foreclosure on your home; or worked at a company that was downsizing and laying people off; or enrolled in a college where the tuition keeps doubling; or faced salary freezes year after year, even while the cost of living rises.

Most of us know how those things feel. It's the feeling of losing control over your destiny.

More Info: 

Ben Manski is executive director of the Liberty Tree Foundation, an Institute for Policy Studies associate fellow and a member of the executive committee of Move to Amend: The Campaign to Legalize Democracy.

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  • Amending the Constitution
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  • Citizens United v. FEC

MCLARTY: Fighting corporate power in the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling

February 13, 2010
By: 
Scott McLarty

Democracy and fair elections in the US are in grave danger.  What are we going to do about it?

More Info: 
Scott McLarty is national media coordinator for the Green Party of the United States, which does not accept corporate contributions.  He lives in Washington, DC.
 
More Resources:
"Challenging Corporate Personhood: Corporations, the U.S. Constitution, and Democracy"
Interview with Jan Edwards in Multinational Monitor magazine, October/November 2002 
Move To Amend (sign the petition)
Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC)  If you need help with actions against corporate personhood or if you have ideas, contact DUHC at 707-269-0984
Multinational Monitor 
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  • Amending the Constitution
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  • Citizens United v. FEC

MANSKI AND GRAVES: Amend the Constitution to rein in corporations

February 12, 2010
By: 
Ben Manski and Lisa Graves

You just lost the heart of your citizenship, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

In Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission, five justices asserted: “By taking the right to speak from some and giving it to others, the government deprives the disadvantaged person or class of the right to use speech to strive to establish worth, standing and respect for the speaker’s voice.”

 

The “disadvantaged person” they reference is, unbelievably, the corporation. In law-speak, this means that as “persons,” corporations now wield constitutional protections against government regulation of elections.

More Info: 

Ben Manski is the executive director of the Liberty Tree Foundation and a practicing attorney, and Lisa Graves is the executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy and former deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy under Attorneys General Janet Reno and John Ashcroft. They are members of the executive committee of MovetoAmend.org and can be reached at pmproj@progressive.org.

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  • Amending the Constitution
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  • Citizens United v. FEC

GRANT: Voters of both parties object to Supreme Court activism

January 26, 2010
By: 
Bill Grant

If anything can unite Americans across party and ideological lines, it should be the arrogant and unprecedented Supreme Court ruling that corporations are “persons” with all the protections and rights of the Constitution.

In a case trumped up by the court itself, five activist judges reversed 100 years of precedent to allow unlimited, special-interest money to be spent in our local, state and federal elections.

Corporations are now free to spend unlimited money on behalf of a candidate they favor, or against one they wish to silence. No grassroots organization will ever be likely to raise enough money for their candidate to compete on a level playing field.

More Info: 

This report originally appeared in the Grand Junction Sentinel here...

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WRN: Move to Amend sees “Pearl Harbor for American democracy"

January 25, 2010
By: 
Bob Hague, Wisconsin Radio Network
Last week’s controversial Supreme Court ruling has some calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Madison attorney Ben Manski says the decision, which is expected to allow corporate and union money to pour into political campaigns, was itself based on a precedent which gives corporations the same rights as individuals.
 
“This decision enshrines the rights of corporations above the rights of the people to govern ourselves,” says Manski. “The majority essentially decided that cortporations have the same rights as flesh-and-blood human beings.”
 
More Info: 

Listen here: www.wrn.com/2010/01/move-to-amend/

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WASH POST: On pins and needles ahead of Citizens United

January 14, 2010
By: 
Dan Eggen

News conferences were scheduled and telephone briefings were penciled in, but Washington advocacy groups were disappointed yet again Wednesday: The Supreme Court did not issue its long-awaited decision on campaign finance laws.

 

This is a vigil of the kind to be found only in Washington. Legal groups, political parties and court-watchers have been waiting for months to learn whether the high court will uphold a ban on corporate spending on elections, or if instead it will open the gates to unlimited donations from well-financed companies and unions.

 

More Info: 

This article originally appeared in the Washington Post, here...

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NICHOLS: Feingold Fears Lawless Court Ruling

January 12, 2010
By: 
John Nichols
More than one hundred years ago, after a 1904 president race that saw big life insurance companies pour money into the project of electing Republican Teddy Roosevelt, the defeated Democratic candidate, Judge Alton Parker, raised the question of whether presidents and congresses would simply be bought by corporations seeking policies that favored their interests.
 
"The greatest moral question which now confronts us is: Shall the trusts and corporations be prevented from contributing money to control or aid in controlling elections?" declared Parker.
 
More Info: 

John Nichols is the Washington Correspondent for The Nation magazine. He is president of the Liberty Tree Foundation. This article originally appeared in the Nation Magazine here...

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MONKS and MURRAY: Is the Supreme Court Determined to Expand Corporate Power?

August 25, 2009
By: 
Robert Monks and Peter Murray
Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation

One of the phrases bandied about during the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court is “judicial activism” – a tendency of judges to use the cases they decide to implement their own notions of public policy. Of course, all recent Supreme Court nominees have steadfastly denied any shred of judicial activism and have uniformly maintained that the proper role of a judge, even a Supreme Court Justice, is to apply existing law, whether Constitutional, statutory or precedent, to the facts of the case before him or her. No one has been more outspoken against the evils of judicial activism than Chief Justice Roberts.

Now it appears that the Chief may be undertaking a bit of judicial activism of his own. The case is Citizens United v. FEC. The conservative group that sponsored Hillary: The Movie just before the Democratic primary is seeking to avoid or roll back the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that prohibits the use of corporate funds to influence elections. Chief Justice Roberts and his conservative Supreme Court majority are getting ready to use Citizens United as the vehicle to overrule established precedent (and overturn carefully drafted legislation) and grant business corporations a constitutional right to use their funds to participate in political debate, not only on public issues, but even in the election of candidates to office. Such a move would be judicial activism on a grand scale!
 
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Move to Amend rallies with the Monahans in Kansas City and Des Moines

August 12, 2010
By: 
Marybeth Gardam
Iowa Move to Amend

On Monday August 9th at 2:30pm, several of our Iowa Move To Amend (IA MTA) folks departed Des Moines for a rally in Kansas City, Missouri, three hours away, and participated in the 6:00 pm rally to welcome the Monahan Brothers at the Plaza Fountain in downtown Kansas City.  The Plaza is in the heart of corporate Kansas City, surrounded by a very decorative campus of big corporate stores and restaurants and the gigantic 'anchor' corporate entity in Kansas City, Hallmark Corporation.
 

Over 100 people stood up for “Abolishing Corporate Personhood.”  Signs and banners were abundant, and a women’s drum circle welcomed rally participants.  Water was provided at this scorching hot evening.  Folk singers sang about 'Corporate Kings' and Corporate Personhood as a threat to democracy. Speakers from the Green Party, the AFSC, and the local independent television station spoke. I spoke too, as a representative of the National Move To Amend Steering Committee, and so did Laird Monahan who is walking across America this summer with his brother Robin.  
 
More Info: 

See photos of the Kansas City rally here.

For more information about Iowa Move to Amend, contact ia.movetoamend@gmail.com

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JURMAIN: Problem and Solution

August 11, 2010
Rick Jurmain

On Wednesday, August 11th, local entrepreneur and inventor Rick Jurmain, who, with his wife and partner, Mary, has committed his business to social responsibility, spoke at the kickoff meeting of the northwest Wisconsin chapter of Move to Amend. His remarks are below.

Problem and Solution, by Rick Jurmain

Good evening and welcome.  Thank you for coming tonight.

And thanks very much to Infinitea Tea House for their hospitality in hosting this event.  I encourage all of you to have a cup of tea or other drinks.  They also have salads and a selection of baked goods.

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  • Amending the Constitution
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  • Wisconsin

DIXON: What If BP Were A Human Being?

May 5, 2010
Bruce A. Dixon
Black Agenda Report

The third largest oil company in the world, BP was born in 1909 as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and was partly owned by the British government. Its headquarters offices are in the UK.. So if it were a flesh and blood person, it would be far and away the wealthiest person on earth, and a nominal British subject. Assuming that our imaginary human BP got into the oil business at the youthful age of say, 20, and stayed at it for just over a century, BP the human being would be closing in on his 121st birthday. Damned few of us will see triple digits, and none of us that reach even our 60s and 70s retain the level of energy, or often of interest that we possessed only a couple decades before.

Additional Information: 

Bruce Dixon is the Managing Editor of the Black Agenda Report and a member of the Steering Committee of MovetoAmend.org

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  • Alabama
  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Florida
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi

VIDEO: We the Corporations? Life & Law in the U.S.A. after Citizens United v. FEC

April 16, 2010
Liberty Tree Foundation
 
"We the Corporations?" Life & Law in the U.S.A. after Citizens United v. FEC was a one-day conference addressing that historic decision, and featuring reactions to it from some of the nation's leading democracy campaigners and experts on the doctrine of corporate constitutional rights.
Additional Information: 

 

  • Hosted by the UW-Madison National Lawyers Guild and the Liberty Tree Foundation
  • Sponsored by the American Constitution Society, Center for Media and Democracy, and Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
  • Cosponsored by the A.E. Havens Center for the Study of Social Structure and Social Change, UW-Madison Legal Studies Association, Madison Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, Student Progressive Dane, and the Student Labor Action Coalition.
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  • Amending the Constitution
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AZ: David Cobb on Citizens United v. FEC

April 13, 2010


On January 21, 2010, with its ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons, entitled by the U.S. Constitution to buy elections and run our government. Human beings are people; corporations are legal fictions. The Supreme Court is misguided in principle, and wrong on the law. In a democracy, the people rule. Join Liberty Tree and our many partners in this movement, as we move to overrule the Supreme Court. Go to www.MovetoAmend.org right now and sign the motion.

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  • Building a Democracy Movement
  • Arizona

ZEPERNICK: On the history of corporate personhood and a strategy for overturning it

March 31, 2010
Mary Zepernick
Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy Womens International League for Peace and Freedom

Mary Zepernick, of the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy and Womens International League for Peace and Freedom delivered a history of corporate personhood and observations on the need for ending all corporate appropriation of personhood rights through a Constitutional amendment to the organizers of a panel discussion on the Supreme Court's Citzens United Discussion. The organizing groups included North Bridge Alliance for Democracy joined with Concord Carlisle League of Women Voters, Concord CAN, and the Carlisle Climate Action Network.

Additional Information: 

Mary Zepernick is the Director of POCLAD (Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy).

Move To Amend is pushing forward with the Constitutional amendment Ms. Zepernick refers to.

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The Essence of the Corporation

January 10, 2010
Ben Manski

The corporation is the subject of a growing, spiraling conflict. The streets of Seattle, Quebec, Washington D.C., Cancun, La Paz, Genoa, Seoul, Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Zurich, Miami, Hong Kong, and many another city, hold the footprints of the contestants over the status of corporations in international law. As is often the case, myriad differences among the many parties have faded in the light of a defining conflict. Two camps remain. One camp, gathering in the World Social Forum process born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, raises as its banners the sanctity of the natural world, and the sovereignty of people over corporations.

Additional Information: 

Ben Manski is an attorney with Manski Law & Communications, LLC, and the editor of the Liberty Tree Journal. He is also a member of the Speak Out! speakers bureau: http://www.speakoutnow.org/

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  • Understanding the Corporation

Corporate Personhood and the "Right" to Harm the Environment

May 13, 2009
Jan Edwards and Alis Valencia

Concerned with the environmental threat posed by factory hog farms, nine townships in Pennsylvania have passed ordinances banning corporate ownership of farms. Opponents have filed a lawsuit, however, claiming that such laws are unconstitutional because they violate a corporation's rights under the First and 14th Amendments and the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.1

Why is it that corporations can claim constitutional rights? Wasn't our Constitution written in the name of "We the people"?

Additional Information: 

Jan Edwards and Alis Valencia, members of the Womens International League of Peace and Freedom and of the Campaign to Abolish Corporate Personhood, live on the Mendocino coast in Northern California. You can learn more about WILPF's "Challenge Corporate Power; Assert the People's Rights" campaign at WILPF's website.

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  • Understanding the Corporation

MANSKI & PECK: Corporatization: An internal clash of civilizations

January 1, 2006
Ben Manski and John Peck
Public Services Yearbook, 2005

Hurricane Katrina destroyed as yet uncounted lives, communities, and ecosystems. The hurricane also destroyed popular visions of the US state, sweeping away the last vestiges of federal paternalism, revealing the costs of corporatization in its wake. Years of budget cuts, cronyism, and corporatization rendered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) incompetent to manage this greatest of national emergencies. Now, after the flooding of the Gulf coast, the words of prominent corporate ideologue Grover Norquist are widely perceived to carry a still more sinister tone: “My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years; to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub”(quoted by Dreyfuss, 2001).

Additional Information: 

Ben Manski is Executive Director of Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution. John Peck is Director of Family Farm Defenders.

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  • Understanding the Corporation
  • Building a Democracy Movement

Abolish Corporate Personhood

September 21, 2001
Molly Morgan

First presented at a community meeting in Santa Cruz, California, on September 21, 2001.

We’re gathered together tonight to examine a phenomenon called “corporate personhood.” Most people who hear that phrase for the first time scratch their heads, look at you funny, and maybe wonder what you’ve been smoking. The absurdity of corporate personhood has that effect on people — it just doesn’t make sense! But corporate personhood is not only real under law, it has an enormous impact on all of us, so it behooves us to know what it is, how it got here, and why we need to get rid of it.

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  • Understanding the Corporation

Organize Your Town to Pass a Resolution to Legalize Democracy and Abolish Corporate Personhood

September 1, 2010

View or download this flier for sample language to a resolution that can be adopted by your town, city, county or state to support an Amendment abolishing corporate personhood. Tips on passing a resolution can be found on our Get Involved page, here.

Document: 
application/pdf iconMTA-Resolution.pdf
  • Amending the Constitution
  • General

Not All Responses to Citizens United Are the Same

September 1, 2010

The Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision has yielded varied responses from a range of organizations and individuals. Some actions are modest calls to attempt to limit the impact of the decision on elections. Others propose a more direct challenge to the supposed political speech rights of corporations. Move to Amend says that corporations have no rights under the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 14th  Amendments, and seeks to build a movement for a 28th Amendment limiting Constitutional rights to human persons as the basis for genuine democracy. 

 
Document: 
application/pdf iconMTA-NotAllResponsesAreSame.pdf
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  • Amending the Constitution
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What Would it Mean to End Corporate Rule?

Corporations have gained the legal status of persons, accumulated rights, and now tell the government what to do. Ending corporate personhood and the legal fiction that money is speech is the first step in giving democratic government the legal ability to take a number of actions that are currently "beyond our authority.

Document: 
application/pdf iconMTA-WhatCouldChange.pdf
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  • Building a Democracy Movement

Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule

Proclaim the independence of all levels of our government from the domination of corporations. Download .pdfs and .doc versions of this timely re-write of the Declaration: 

Document: 
application/pdf iconMTA-Declaration.pdf
application/pdf iconMTA-Declaration2up.pdf
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Move to Amend Petition: Help Grow the Groundswell!

If you're tabling, demonstrating, or hosting an event, you can sign people on to the Move to Amend call for action by downloading and printing our petition.

Document: 
application/pdf iconMTA-Petition.pdf
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Don't see your state? Please contact us get your state involved.

Areas of Focus

Amending the Constitution
Understanding the Corporation
Citizens United v. FEC
Building a Democracy Movement
The March of the Monahan Brothers

Steering Committee

  • Colorado Move to Amend

    Colorado Move To Amend is a Colorado based citizens group organized to regain the...
  • Program on Corporations Law and Democracy

    POCLAD works with people experienced in stopping corporate harms who want to rethink...
  • Independent Progressive Politics Network

    "At the top of the social pyramid, the corporate-dominated political parties are...
  • Democracy Unlimited

    Democracy Unlimited educates citizens about the illegitimate seizure of our...
  • Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

    The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was founded in 1915 during...
  • No More Stolen Elections!

    No Stolen More Elections! is a non-partisan campaign committed to voting rights,...
  • Alliance for Democracy

    The Alliance is a new Populist movement --- not a political party --- setting forth...

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Key Partners

  • Backbone Campaign

    The Backbone Campaign is a grassroots effort to embolden citizens and elected...
  • Family Farm Defenders

    Our mission is to create a farmer-controlled and consumer-oriented food and fiber...
  • Green Party of the U.S.

    The Green Party of the United States is a federation of state Green Parties....
  • Velvet Revolution

    VelvetRevolution.us ("VR") is a network of more than 120 progressive organizations...
  • Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

    The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is a homegrown network of citizens fighting...

[more]

Endorsers

  • The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Florida (UULMF)

  • Justice Through Music

  • Palm Beach County Chapter of the Network of Spiritual Progressives

  • Voting Matters

  • BuzzFlash

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Organizational Endorsements

If your organization, business, union, faith community, or local governmental organization would like to sign on as a supporter of this effort, please let us know.

 

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