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California Congresswoman Barbara Lee with her very own “Do Not Disturb Democracy” door hanger

Update 4/30/2013: Congresswoman Barbara Lee shows off her very own “Do Not Disturb Democracy” door hanger. Please “Share” this photo on Facebook to spread the word.

Do Not Disturb… Democracy!

We did it. Together, Global Exchange supporters from nearly all 50 states mailed over 600 ‘Do Not Disturb Democracy’ door hangers to Congress.

 

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Global Exchange members Jessica Nuti, Hillary Lehr, and Jenny White deliver ‘Do Not Disturb Democracy’ door hangers to Congresswoman Pelosi’s office. April 17, 2013

These door hangers – a cheeky method for engaging with elected officials to communicate our concerns about corporate money in politics – provide a fun and strategic way for constituents to move past frustration with Congress to spark communication, dialogue and action about the critical condition of our democracy.

Screen shot 2013-04-18 at 10.58.41 AMLast Monday, elected officials in Congress were called by constituents to follow up. Dozens of participants called their Senators and Representative wanting to know if their door hangers had arrived and if they had been hung on their doors. Constituents also asked for public statements from elected officials willing to go ‘On the Record’ with their official position on money in politics. This follow up puts direct pressure on elected officials to represent US instead of prioritizing relationships with high-powered corporate lobbyists.

Since our Global Exchange office is in San Francisco, we brought our door hangers to Congresswoman Pelosi’s office. It was good to meet with folks from Congresswoman Pelosi’s team and hear about her official support for the DISCLOSE Act and her aversion to the SCOTUS Citizens United decision. Previously, Congresswoman Pelosi has stated, “I promise you this, and I know it for certain. You lower the role of money in campaigns, you increase the level of civility, and you will elect more women to public office, more minorities, more young people.” (Source: United Republic)
We weren’t able to take a photo inside Congresswoman Pelosi’s office sadly, but we have a photo from just before our delivery at the San Francisco Federal Building. While many callers had a similar experience of reluctance from elected officials to tweet or comment on the door hangers, we are still making a difference. How? Together, we are contributing to the grassroots foundation of a movement to end the corrosive influence of money in politics. Calling and, whenever possible, meeting with, elected officials and staff is crucial to communicating the true urgency of money in politics… and it makes it clear that this is an issue voters all over the country will be thinking about during election season.

Regardless of the issues at hand, whether it is gun control, immigration, budget, or regulating Wall Street, we must free our democracy from the clutches of corporate money, and from the undue level of influence corporate lobbyists assert. Once we do, we will be able to make steady progress on a plethora of urgent issues. I hope you agree and will stay tuned for what’s next. Thank you for participating with us. Your action makes all the difference. Together, we can organize to build power to protect and reclaim our democracy.

GX ED StickerTAKE ACTION:
If you haven’t yet had a chance to call your elected officials re: the door hangers, there is still time! Simply visit our call-in-page to look up your Senators and Representative along with the phone numbers, and follow our step-by-step guide. You can do it, and it only takes a few minutes!

 

Well, we certainly kicked off the new year with a bang.

Last week, from coast to coast, broadcasts of stirring inauguration speeches were met with the demands of people calling for a real and vital change: Inaugurate Democracy: Represent US!

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Global Exchange contingent at the Money OUT, Voters IN rally targeting Chevron’s money in politics in Richmond, CA, Jan. 19, 2013.

Our journey in bringing the call for change began in Richmond, California on Saturday Jan. 19th. Hundreds gathered outside a Chevron refinery to demand justice, stating that the millions spent by Chevron on local, state, and national elections should in no way dwarf the very real needs and voices of actual voters. Global Exchange brought our Inaugurate Democracy signs and postcard petitions which were signed by hundreds of participants in Richmond that day.

The next day I hopped on a flight to Washington DC to bring our message straight to the decision-makers who need to hear it most: our very own elected officials.

$OUT photo DC

Bringing out Money OUT, Voters IN petitions that were signed at the rally targeting Chevron’s money in politics in Richmond, CA, Jan. 19, 2013 all the way to Washington DC to #InaugurateDemocracy!

We created a banner that said, “$$$ Out” made of our signed petitions, and took a photo in the freezing 13 degree windy weather in front of the Washington Monument. Wow, it was cold indeed. But it was all worth it, because the voices of the hundreds who signed our petitions will be heard by Congress. If you haven’t signed our petition yet, we can still make sure it gets delivered to Congress!

Have you received a response from your petition?? If so let us know: email hillary {at} globalexchange.org. We’ll keep petition-signers updated with any responses as well.

People visiting DC last week say: "#InaugurateDemocracy! Money OUT, Voters IN!"

Taking our message to the White House:  #InaugurateDemocracy: Money OUT, Voters IN!

While in DC, I had several meetings with folks from organizations including the Sunlight Foundation about how to best utilize their incredible tools such as www.PoliticalPartyTime.org and Influence Explorer to trace the influence of lobbyists. I am so inspired by the work we are all doing to challenge the undue influence of corporate money in politics!

Together, we are inaugurating democracy in 2013–organizing our extensive people power directly to restore and protect our democracy so that we may create the just and sustainable future that we deserve.

Chevron Rally: Money OUT, Voters IN! 1-19-13

Chevron Rally: Money OUT, Voters IN! 1-19-13

 

TAKE ACTION:

Sign Global Exchange’s petition: Money Out, Voters In!

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Chevron Rally: Money OUT, Voters IN marching contingent in Richmond, CA! 1-19-13