Free Speech For People

Free Speech For People is a national non-partisan organization founded in 2010 to advocate for a new constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending and to repeal the doctrine of corporate personhood. The organization also engages in legal advocacy and corporate charter reform.[1]

Background

Free Speech For People was founded by Massachusetts-based attorneys John Bonifaz and Jeffrey Clements in January, 2010 in response to the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court ruling.[2] Citizens United v. FEC is a U.S. constitutional law case dealing with the regulation of campaign spending by corporations, and was extended to include labor unions and other associations.[3] Free Speech For People supports a proposed 28th Constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United v. FEC ruling, that declares money does not equate to free speech, and corporations do not hold the rights of people.[4][5]

Amendment Work

Free Speech for People supports the Democracy For All Amendment and the People’s Rights Amendment. The Democracy For All Amendment refers to a Senate amendment bill (S.J. Res. 19)[6] introduced by Senator Tom Udall and an accompanying House amendment bill (H.J. Res. 119).[7] The Democracy For All Amendment seeks to allow Congress to set limits on campaign spending, as existed prior to Citizens United v. Fec. The organization also supports the People’s Rights Amendment, which includes a Senate amendment bill (S.J. Res. 18) [8][and an accompanying House amendment bill (H.J. Res. 21).[9] The People’s Rights Amendment, proposed by House Representative Jim McGovern, seeks to clarify the distinction between the rights of corporations and natural persons.[10]

In 2013, Free Speech For People released a report that highlighted over 100 Republican officials that supported a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.[11] A vote on the amendment will take place in the U.S. Senate on September 8, 2014.[12]

Legal Advocacy

Free Speech For People also engages in legal advocacy, public education and organizing to challenge corporate power. Free Speech For People filed a friend-of-the-court amicus brief in the case of Conestoga Wood Specialities Corp. v. Burwell. [13] They also support the initiative to revoke Massey Energy’s corporate charter.

Corporate Charter Reform

After a report from the Mine Safety and Health Administration found that "if basic safety measures were in place there would have been no loss of life at the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster”[14] which claimed the lives of 29 coal miners,[15] Free Speech For People led efforts with the Rainforest Alliance, Appalachian Voices, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to revoke the corporate charter of the Appalachian coal mining company Massey Energy.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Free Speech For People http://www.freespeechforpeople.org. Retrieved August 19, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Citizens United v. FEC: Time for a Free Speech for People Amendment?". American Constitution Society for Law & Society. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission". Supreme Court of the United States Blog. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ Swanson, David. "Massachusetts Legislators Back Free Speech for People (Not Corporate Persons)". Daily KOS. Daily KOS. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  5. ↑ ""Free Speech for People" Coalition Calls for Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Decision Allowing Unlimited Corporate Spending on Elections". Democracy Now. October 28, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ "UNITED STATES—113th Cong., 2d Sess. S. J. Res. 19" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
  7. ↑ "113TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. J. RES. 119" (PDF). United States Congress. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ "113TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 18" (PDF). United States Congress. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "113TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 21" (PDF). United States Congress.
  10. ↑ MacNeal, Caitlin (June 19, 2013). "Citizens United Constitutional Amendments Introduced In The Senate". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ C., Ben. "New Report Documents Republican Support for Citizens United Amendment". People For the American Way. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Reid Schedules Vote in September on Amending the Constitution". The Hill. August 1, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  13. ↑ "BRIEF FOR FREE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE, AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, AND HOLLENDER SUSTAINABLE BRANDS, LLC, AS AMICI CURIAE SUPPORTING RESPONDENTS" (PDF). Free Speech For People - Amicus Brief.
  14. ↑ "America's Most Dynamic (Yet Under-Covered) Movement: Overturning 'Citizens United'". The Nation. July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Years After Deadly Explosion, Coal Boss Talks Straight With Brian Ross". ABC News - Nightline.
  16. ↑ Gerken, James (September 21, 2011). "Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Targets Massey Coal Company". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
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