October, 19 2010, 03:33pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nancy
Price 603-694-2123;
After 10/16: 530-219-0946;
nancytprice@juno.com
Laird Monahan:
651-955-1272;
g.laird.m@gmail.com
Cross Country Walk to Save Democracy Ends at Lincoln Memorial, Oct. 20
Veterans Laird and Robin Monahan to lead march and rally opposing corporate personhood
WASHINGTON
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
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
at www.lairdandrobin.org.)
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 10:00 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 US Capitol Building for a second rally to take
place at 3:00 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 US
Capitol and Supreme Court buildings. The Backbone Campaign has
expertise in political spectacle and was recently covered in
Roll Call <https://backbonecampaign.org/storydetail.cfm?id=286> and was
featured on Congress.org
From 6:00 - 8:00 PM, a
celebration and reception will take place at Busboys and Poets
on 5th and K St.
MovetoAmend.org is a coalition supported by hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of individuals dedicated to ending the illegitimate legal doctrines that prevent the American people from governing ourselves.
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