Community Occupiers Head for Corporations on January 21

BRADENTON -- On January 21 of 2010, the United States Supreme Court voted 5-4 asserting that First Amendment rights prohibit governments from placing limits on independent spending for political purposes by unions and corporations. The Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling supported the groups claim that corporations are people protected by the Constitution, triggering controversy throughout the nation. On Saturday January 21, 2012, occupiers throughout the country will be united in support of overturning that decision through a Constitutional Amendment.

Senator Tom Udall, (D-NM) has already introduced an amendment that would reverse Citizens United, and Representative Betty Sutton (D-OH) has as well. Udall's amendment is co-authored with Senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Shumer, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Jeff Merkley. Every single day it seems to become more obvious that Americans are fed-up with the money-dominated politics that were only strengthened by that decision. In fact, if there's one thing that Americans of all political stripes seem to agree upon today it's that there is too much money and corporate influence in politics, raising hopes that this issue can gain widespread support from voters. 

In Montana, there is a state law that bans corporate spending in elections. It was the memory of "bagmen" from the coal companies delivering piles of cash to legislators that reminded the people of that state of the damage that moneyed influences present to democracy and inspired the law. An organization called Public Citizen is asking for activists everywhere to come out to denounce corporate impostors, posing as "people" with the same constitutional rights as the rest of us. They are soliciting activists and occupiers to join them and other groups like Common Cause in support of Occupy Corporations in order to send a message to legislators that when it comes to money in politics, we've had our fill.