The recent U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending on elections. David Cobb, an attorney and organizer for the Move to Amend coalition, will speak at a forum hosted by Fresno’s Wesley United Methodist Church in September. The forum, entitled “Creating Democracy and Challenging Corporate Rule,” will help local residents understand the history behind the recent decision and how they can work to abolish “corporate personhood” and reestablish a government of, by and for the people.
Corporate personhood commonly refers to the court-created precedent that gives corporations constitutional rights intended solely for human beings. Corporate personhood is not an inconsequential legal technicality. The Supreme Court ruled that a corporation was a “legal person with 14th Amendment protections before they granted full personhood to African-Americans, immigrants, natives or women,” states Cobb.
“We are inspired by historic social movements that recognized the necessity of altering fundamental power relationships,” said Cobb.
“America has progressed through ordinary people joining together—from the Revolutionaries to Abolitionists, Suffragists, Trade Unionists, and Civil Rights activists through to today. Move to Amend is a long-term effort to make the U.S. Constitution more democratic.”
The forum—part history lesson and part heartfelt call to action—will focus on how Fresno can join the national movement against corporate personhood. Cobb will provide information about the issue and facilitate a discussion about local action in Fresno and in communities across the United States to win the amendment campaign through grassroots mobilization.
“We are a diverse coalition with deep roots in communities nationwide. We recognize that amending the Constitution to restore the power of the people over corporations will not be easy, but we know correcting the Supreme Court is imperative to the progress of our nation,” stated Cobb.
To date, more than 128,000 people have signed an online petition supporting a constitutional amendment at www.MoveToAmend.org.
The local forum will take place on September 13 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1343 E. Barstow Ave. This is a free event. For more info, e-mail the local group at movetoamendfresno@hotmail.com.
