Unchecked corporate power is a serious threat to the country's, and the planet's, future. I applaud the effort of two citizens, Laird and Robin Monohan, to draw attention to the ghastly absurdity known as "corporate personhood," which a Supreme Court ruling last January advanced.
Move To Amend recently issued a press release about the brothers' cross-country effort.
WASHINGTON, DC -- On October 20, Laird and Robin Monahan will cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington, DC, ending their historic cross-country walk. Their journey began on May 16, in San Francisco. After the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the brothers found themselves in agreement with the majority of Americans who opposed the ruling, which confirmed that "corporations are persons" and have the constitutional right of "free speech" under the First Amendment.
"It seemed to me that the Court had made a fraud of the Constitution. It made people second class citizens to corporations," said Laird Monahan.
The pair decided it was necessary to do something to draw attention to the decision, and the cross-country walk idea was born. Assisted by Move to Amend, the Committee to Legalize Democracy and others, the walk became a reality.
Upon leaving San Francisco, the brothers headed east along Highway 50, speaking along the way with local citizens and the media, demonstrating in front of state capitals, and connecting with grassroots groups in small towns and large cities across the country. (Read their blog and press accounts here.)
Friends and supporters will meet the brothers at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery near the Arlington Metro at 10 AM Wednesday, Oct. 20. From there, they will walk to the Lincoln Memorial for a rally headlined by the brothers at noon. At 1:30 PM, the assembly will march to the U.S. Capitol Building for a second rally to take place at 3 PM.
The Backbone Campaign is providing imagery support for the march and rally, including a 20-foot-by-210-foot "We the People Preamble" to the Constitution and large signs, which will be displayed in front of the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court buildings. From 6 to 8 PM, a celebration and reception will take place at Busboys and Poets on 5th and K Streets.