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The Alliance for Democracy is helping to organize events across America this July 4th weekend that will focus on ending Corporate Rule through a new amendment to our Constitution:

The Citizens United ruling allows corporate financing of independent political campaigns, scraps campaign finance law in 24 states, and further entrenches corporate rule. We need clean elections and an end to the legal fiction of corporate personhood.

They have been heavily involved in helping to get passed the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752 & H.R. 1826) that is winding its way through Congress:

On the federal level, the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752 and H.R. 1826) sets up a system by which candidates seek small donations, limited to no more than $100, to receive funding for election primaries and for general election campaigning. House candidates could receive $900,000, plus matching funds if additional small donations are raised. Importantly, donations must be raised in-state to demonstrate local support for the candidate. The bill also helps meet the challenge of buying media time, a major expense, by getting a discount on broadcast time and additional funding.

This bill was discussed in our latest Consilience Awareness Concert Series -- Clean Money, Clean Elections -- and NPR ran a nice profile back in March.

You can read their article, "Courts & Corporations vs. Our Common Good," read all about the Citizen United Supreme Court ruling that overturned over 100 years of precedent, and better yet, you can organize an event this July 4th to correspond to their Independence Day Actions!

This July 4 weekend, get together with others in your area to declare independence from corporate rule. Let your community know that we don't have to accept the false doctrine that corporations are people or that money equals free speech, and that working together we can take our government back from big-money interests.

You can then follow their action plan as laid out in this .pdf - Getting Started Direct Action Tips:

Many communities host 4th of July parades, and having a float is a great way to have fun and get publicity. Get a team together and design and build a float for the parade. Some ideas for themes: "Declare your TRUE independence: Abolish corporate rule!" "WWJD? What Would Jefferson Do?" "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy!" "Overrule the Court!" "Money Talks, and Louder Than You!"

Make your float visually exciting. Have people dress as founding mothers and fathers, make a huge Declaration of Independence, create a huge check made out to corporate America or a trillion dollar bill with the Exxon logo where a president's face normally goes. During the parade, toss out Legalize Democracy buttons and hand out informational fliers.

Stage a life-size Monopoly game around the main square of town (read on).

Build a traveling democracy bandwagon to take the media and free speech back from corporations (read on).

Stage a sit-in or a lock-down demanding at the headquarters of a corporation that is doing a lot of damage in your community. (read on).

Host a community event where you and/or other speakers brief the audience about the corporate rule and the Campaign to Legalize Democracy. (read on).

You can follow their "Tips for Getting Started," which include:

Get a group of people together. Make a list of people you know who are outraged about corporate rule and invite them to a planning meeting at your house. Contact the heads of local organizations who should care about this issue and invite them, too. At the meeting, talk about why abolishing Corporate Personhood is important to you, invite others to share their feelings, and then start brainstorming what your community can do.

Pick your 4th of July actions as soon as possible and then delegate committees for permits, costumes and props, recruitment, fundraising and media. The sooner you start the more fun it will be.

If you want to be in a parade, table or participate in a community event, find out which organization or city department is in charge and contact them immediately. They can tell you if you need to fill out permits or paperwork to get involved.

If you are going to be doing artistic actions, check to see if there is an arts
collective, circus troupe, performing arts group or political organizing group that could get involved. Ask to meet with them, brief them on Corporate Personhood and ask them to get involved. Invite them to your initial brainstorming meeting or work with them to develop an artistic direct action plan.

If you want to stage a sit-in or a lock-down, you will need help from direct
action organizers. Check in your local community to see if there are people who teach
non-violence training and/or have experience organizing direct actions against corporations. Have them meet with your group and pick a target, develop a strategy, and pick people to perform different roles, including who will risk arrest and who will act as liaison between the group and the police and media.

Whether you are planning direct actions or the 4th of July event, make sure to contact
the media. Write a press release before your event and call newspapers and television
reporters before the event to remind them to come. Prepare brief talking points and deliver a
clear message. Pick a media point person to coordinate the media subcommittee, do
interviews and coordinate your message. See our website for tips about working with the
media.

Don't forget to take photos and capture video of the event. And make sure to
let us know about your actions so we can publicize them on our website and spread the word!

Make this the best (activist) Fourth of July ever!

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