Two activists for getting money out of politics were arrested at 10:30 am at an event put on by nuclear energy lobbyists and the National Journal. Senator Ron Wyden (OR) was a speaker and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) was in attendance. They unfurled a banner reading Corporate Cash Nukes This Election and shouted "Get Money Out of Politics!"
One point organizers are making: a number of high profile politicians have been heckled in recent days, with the protesters promptly escorted out. In this case, where corporate lobbyists were the ones being heckled, arrests were made right away. Are corporations really more worthy of this kind of protection that our elected officials?
Peter Tridish and Paul Davis are in town to raise awareness for #takethemoneyout, a new effort to highlight the corrupting impact of cash in politics. [Takethemoneyout website.]
Additional notes:
- The fire department was called after the arrests were made. Quick! Put out the democracy activists!
-I'm told Democracy Now has some footage of the event - will update as soon possible.
- Jodie Evans of Code Pink has been doing a great job tweeting and posting photos.
- My own involvement is through working with the Stamp Stampede. Yee Haw! We're gonna stamp money out of politics for good.
Update: Official Press Release after the jump.
Activists at DNC Melt Down Over Energy CEOs and Unlimited Campaign
Contributions, Disrupt Corporate Side Event
(Charlotte) On the eve of President Obama's DNC speech at the Bank of America Arena, public interest advocates disrupted a high-profile Atlantic/National Journal DNC side event featuring energy industry CEOs and Democratic Party stalwarts like Ron Wyden (OR). The skin and clothing of several of the activists erupted at the event due to chemical reactions graphically illustrating the impact of politicians becoming beholden to corporate interests. They held a banner that said “Corporate Cash Nukes This Election / @TakeTheMoneyOut” while others chanted. After the banner holders were ejected, others remained behind to ask pointed questions of the panelists, putting them on the spot about whether they would support a constitutional that reversing Citizen’s United and establishing that money is not free speech.
"Today, two activists were arrested yelling at corporations. Yesterday, other activists yelling at actual, real people with decision making power were simply escorted out. It shows where our priorities are. Corporate power is protected above all others.", said Jennifer Flynn, Managing Director of Health GAP, an international AIDS activist organization.
“Politicians in this cycle are more than ever becoming wholly owned subsidiaries of their corporate paymasters,” stated Jose DeMarco of ACT UP Philadelphia. “We demand a return to people-led elections, instead of money-driven auctions.”
The meeting is sponsored by some of the world’s most powerful companies such as American Petroleum Institute (the lobbying arm of big oil and gas companies), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (lobbies to impose drug monopolies on impoverished nations), and multinational weapons contractor United Technologies. and underwritten by the Southern Co.—a company that is building two nuclear reactors
at Plant Vogtle near Augusta, GA--the first nuclear plant built from scratch in a generation.
“Nuclear energy is a great example of a technology that is too dangerous and costly to survive on it’s own in the marketplace,” stated zombie mermaid specialist Pete Tridish. “Corporate contributions to politicians is all that keeps this obsolete industry alive while they continue soaking ratepayers.”
Last week, President Obama committed publicly on the Reddit electronic forum that he would support a constitutional amendment to roll back unlimited corporate campaign contributions. Activists at the DNC welcomed the President’s call, and are urging him to challenge Governor Romney to make an equivalent commitment. They are also demanding President Obama outline more details of what such an amendment should include to protect voters from corrosive effect of unlimited big money.
More info: follow @TakeTheMoneyOut on Twitter, and www.facebook.com/TakeTheMoneyOut
Health GAP: http://healthgap.org
3:21 PM PT: Video of the event: