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Today - 2-13-12, we, Occupy Democracy - Pasadena, presented to Congressman Adam Schiff 750 signatures in support of this language regarding the need to overturn Citizens United and revoke corporate personhood. ====================================== Congressman Adam Schiff, The undersigned are convinced that the Supreme Court’s holding in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has created the singular major domestic political crisis of our time. At stake is whether our nation will remain a viable democratic republic or whether, as already appears obvious, it will widen still further the power and influence gap between impersonal, wealthy corporations and the general voting public. If our critical social and economic issues are to be resolved by honest, fair, and open debate, big money must be eliminated as the dominant factor determining the outcome of our elections, and Citizens United must be invalidated by constitutional amendment. And this requires that you and your legislative colleagues, across the political spectrum, must act immediately and resolutely. As your current constituents, neighbors, and American citizens we are asking that you treat the above matter as an essential personal priority and seek passage of a constitutional amendment which will firmly establish that money is not speech, that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights, and that the rights of human beings will never again be granted to fictitious entities or property. ============================ We also presented this letter to Congressman Schiff on behalf of All Saints Episcopal Church in support of revoking corporate personhood: ============================= February 13, 2012 The Honorable Adam Schiff, Member of Congress Dear Adam, I am always grateful for your leadership and your willingness to engage those you represent on matters of great import. In that spirit I write you today about another issue. January 21, 2012 marked the second anniversary of Citizens United v. F.E.C., where a narrow majority of the U.S. Supreme Court asserted that the Constitution prevents Congress from limiting the amount of money that can be spent influencing our elections. The U.S. Constitution has served us very well, but when the Supreme Court says, for purposes of the First Amendment, that corporations are people, that writing checks from the company's bank account is constitutionally-protected speech and that attempts by the federal government and states to impose reasonable restrictions on campaign advertising are unconstitutional, our democracy is in grave danger. In my sermon of January 22, 2012 at All Saints Church, Pasadena, I joined in the call for a Constitutional amendment to ensure that Citizens United is reversed and that the notion of corporate personhood cannot be constitutionally protected. I would appreciate your doing everything in your power to support such a Constitutional amendment along with any other measures that would in the meantime counter the deleterious effects of Citizens United on our electoral process. All my best, Ed Bacon, Rector All Saints Church 132 North Euclid Avenue Pasadena, California 91101

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