Protesters to Occupy Congress, the Courts, and Corporations
The Washington, DC-based occupations at Freedom Plaza and McPherson Square will host a massive rally today to “Occupy Congress.”
Organizers said they expect thousands of protesters to descend on the Capitol for Jan. 17—or #J17, the four-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. Members of Occupy Baltimore also plan to march the roughly 41 miles to Washington, DC for the event.
Though organizers acknowledge a “broad diversity of views about the usefulness and ethics of engaging directly with members of Congress” in the Occupy movement, Tuesday morning is set aside for participants to meet with their representatives. Attendees are encouraged to set up official meetings as constituents.
While the Occupy movement remains determinedly decentralized, these protests could signify a willingness to engage in more specific political actions. Similarly, Occupy Wall Street recently passed a resolution declaring that “Corporations are not people, and money is not speech.”
#J17 will kick off a week of other “#J-something” activism.
For the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which opened the door for more corporate money in politics, a broad coalition of progressive groups called United For the People is planning Occupy the Courts (#J20) and Occupy the Corporations (#J21) actions.
United For the People is pushing for a Constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United and abolish corporate personhood.
The #J17 schedule of events also includes a massive protest at 6 p.m. today in front of the Capitol building, as well as teach-ins and an Occu-party Tuesday night.
Check back with Campus Progress this week for more coverage of #J17.
Emily Crockett is a staff writer with Campus Progress. Follow her on Twitter @emilycrockett.
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