Events began on April 2, 2016 in Philadelphia, where more than a hundred activists began a ten-day, 140-mile march from to Washington D.C. By April 11, thousands had joined Democracy Spring and Democracy Awakening in our nation’s capitol to demand Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in our politics and ensure free and fair elections in which every American has an equal voice.
According to John Zanga, from the DC Media Group, organizers planned an eight-day series of actions involving major groups which have expressed dissatisfaction with legislative agendas. They said they hoped the coming week of civil disobedience actions would be the beginning of a people’s grassroots movement to start wrestling control of the Congress from corporate moneyed interests.
Here are a few of my favorite stories covering the events of last week. I start with this video because I think it explains best the reasons the movement is necessary.
USA Today covered the story I think more completely than any of the other mainstream media outlets. For your “just the facts ma’am” coverage their article More than 900 ‘Democracy Spring’ protesters arrested in D.C. – so far written April 17 is fairly comprehensive.
For coverage from a more progressive standard bearer, your best bet is Democracy Now’s coverage as posted on TruthOut.com last Tuesday April 12, Democracy Spring: More Than 400 Arrested at US Capitol Protesting Corruption and Money in Politics.
Another good article from left of center comes from Alternet’s article, Thousands of Activists March to Capital to Get Money Out of Politics for ‘Democracy Spring’ Protests; Many Arrested
As this is site tries to cover local progressive issues, I’m posting a couple of articles from our local alternative media in their entirety below.
Black Lives Matter and Anacostia organizers lead 3rd march on Capitol by Democracy Spring
Cross-Posted from DC Independent Media Center
Written by Luke
On the 13th of April, Black Lives Matter and other Ward 8 organizers led Democracy Spring’s 3rd march on the US Capitol. The lead banner was from the Save Barry Farms organizers advising people to refuse to move, blocking displacement. When the march arrived at the Capitol, the third sit-in in as many days followed. As police arrested the folks in the sit-in, they also put police lines around the support people after moving them back behind the first police line. At one point they were told they too were subject to arrest,unknown if any arrests other than voluntary ones resulted from this. The final arrest total for the three days so far has now climbed to in excess of 700.
Luke wrote a follow-up article on April 17, Thousands March in Democracy Awakening: March Against Money in Politics.
And finally, we have to include the coverage provided the DC Media Group, who is always good about interviewing event organizers and highlighting campaign goals and ways to stay involved.
Mass Arrests at Democracy Spring Civil Disobedience Action at U.S. Capitol
cross-posted from the DC Media Group
written by John Zangas
Photo by John Zangas
Washington, DC – Over 400 Democracy Spring protesters were arrested Monday at the U.S. Capitol on the first day of eight days of planned protests. It was a record number of arrests in one day for a protest there, according to U.S. Capitol police. At one point, police had to stop processing arrests because the jail was full.
Cenk Uygur, host of the TV show Young Turks was among the last few people that police removed from the Capitol steps. He said it was his first arrest and he expected there to be many more. “The next time we come here I don’t think they’re going to have enough buses to arrest us all,” he said. It took nearly four hours and 15 bus loads for police to remove all the protesters involved in Monday’s sit-in.
Democracy Spring kicked off on April 2 with a 10-day march from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. About 135 took part in the 140-mile walk. David Schwank, a walk participant, said that he was inspired to join the protests for many reasons. “We have so many problems in our country, from environmental devastation to [un]fair wages and it all relates back to campaign finance reform,” he said. Schwank was also among those arrested Monday.
Participants traveled from across the country with a variety of complaints leading them to join Democracy Spring. But one of the core issues activists are challenging is a Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), which gave corporations and the wealthy the right to unlimited campaign funding.
Hundreds of people were arrested in the civil disobedience action at the U.S. Capitol./Photo by John Zangas
“There’s not a piece of legislation that’s ever going to see the light of day if it doesn’t benefit corporations,” said Barry Knight, an activist who traveled from Massachusetts.
A Princeton study found that the U.S. government resembled a corporatocracy more than a democracy as a result of money controlled governance.
“I think it’s time for us to put our bodies on the line and stand up for some of the values we believe in and reclaim our democracy,” said Lillyanne Daigle, an activist from Washington, DC. She said that equal rights were among her main concerns.
The eight days of actions will include civil disobedience with arrests planned each day at the U.S. Capitol. On Tuesday, April 12, Democracy Spring will highlight issues with Elders Activists, a group of Senior Americans who work on social justice.
Wednesday, April 13, Democracy Spring will enjoin organizations working for migrant and racial justice. Thursday, April 14 will be Labor solidarity Day. Unions such as the Teamsters and Labor groups such as OURWalmart will focus on labor issues.
On Friday, April 15, the focus will be on student and youth constituent issues. Saturday, April 16, will be environmental justice day. Sunday, April 17, will be Democracy Awakening.
“We’re here to say to Congress you need to take action or you’re gonna have to send us all to jail,” said Newkirk.
Have to agree with you on that video–excellent! As is this whole article’s coverage of the Democracy Spring/Democracy Awakening events. Not surprised to see it all here on GrassrootsDC, but thankful, nonetheless!