March with the Monahans for democracy

March with the Monahans

On October 20, the Monahan Brothers end their historic walk by crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington, D.C.

Join PDA's Amend to Suspend Corporate Personhood Action Group; sign up here.

Published by Move To Amend.

Five months ago, two brothers—both veterans and both in their sixties—set out to walk across the US for democracy.   

Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, Laird and Robin Monahan disagreed strongly with the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that confirmed that “corporations are persons” and have the constitution right of “free speech” under the First Amendment. But, instead of getting cynical, they got walking.

Starting in San Francisco May 16, they headed east along Highway 50, speaking along the way with local citizens and the media, demonstrating in front of state capitals, and connecting with Move to Amend supporters and allied grassroots groups in small towns and large cities across the country. Read their blog and press accounts at www.lairdandrobin.org.

On October 20, the Monahan Brothers end their historic walk by crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington, DC.

Join Move to Amend in Washington to welcome them at the bridge and rally at the Lincoln Memorial and U.S. Capitol for an end to corporate personhood and corporate “free speech”.

We invite you to be part of this event to:
• celebrate the end of their 158-day “Walk Across America for Democracy”
• rally against unlimited corporate money in elections that drowns out the voice of “we the people”
• rally to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to end corporate personhood and the false notion that money is equivalent to speech.

Save the Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

10:00 a.m.: Meet Laird and Robin and walk with them to the Lincoln Memorial. Starting point: The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and near the Arlington Metro stop.

12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.: Rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

1:30 p.m.: Leave Lincoln Memorial and walk to the U.S. Capitol Building for a second rally at 3:00 p.m.

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.: Celebration and reception at Busboys & Poets at 5th and K (www.busboysandpoets.com)

As we close on the midterm elections, corporate donors are spending an unprecedented amount of money, much of it from undisclosed entities and some of it possibly originating illegally overseas, to influence voters and ensure that they have a Congress who’ll protect their interests and their profits.

The corporate agenda has kept Main Street struggling while Wall Street prospers with taxpayer bailouts. The corporate agenda has prevented real healthcare reform for all, and promoted “free” trade and the migration of jobs overseas, while criminalizing immigrants to this country. The corporate agenda costs us when we go to second-rate hospitals, drive on crumbling bridges and roads, and send our kids to inadequate public schools.

We deserve better—a truly democratic government answerable to the people and the public good, and constitutional protection against “corporate persons” and the notion that money is speech. Join us in DC as we “March with the Monahans” to show our commitment to these goals.

You probably can't take seven months to walk across the US. But we hope you'll support Move to Amend wherever you are, by organizing in your community, spreading the word on corporate power, and donating to support our work. Thank you!