Howdy Guys, I hope you guys and gals have had a nice start to the school year, and I was happy to see the great turnout for the ACA discussion with Professors Blackman, Vladeck, and Marcus. We will definitely have more events like this in the future, and feel free to shoot us an email about topics you would like to see covered.
The next thing coming down the pipeline is a rally hosted by the groups People For the American Way and US PIRG. If you have been keyed in on upcoming Supreme Court cases on your own, or if you went to the excellent discussion yesterday about important Supreme Court cases, you would know that the Court hears oral arguments in McCutheon v. FEC. Smarter people than I have written and talked extensively about why this is an important case, for example the SCOTUSBLOG had an impressive online symposium about it if you have some free time and want to read about the history of the general controversy and the various paths the Court might take to resolve the case. But the basic premise is that the Court will be deciding on whether or not to strike down caps on how much money an individual can contribute directly to political campaigns. It’s kinda a big deal if you are at all concerned about the affects of money in political races.
Stephan, on my orders, has probably been indulating you with information about it, but here are the deets again.
WHAT: Rally against big money in politics and McCutcheon v. FEC
WHERE: The Supreme Court of the United States (1 First St NE, Washington, DC)
WHEN: Tuesday, October 8th at 9:30am (speakers at 10:00am)
There are going to be a ton of speakers, and i’ll list them below, additionally it’s a great chance to get involved in things outside of campus. So if you can, i’d recommend you attend. (and if you are attending sign up in the facebook event and google form):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QiWXJKhmBJGggSnAIKV27m3CpL3wKvTHnXwFwHxDPoA/viewform
https://www.facebook.com/events/407857282647092/
Additionally, there is a lobbying training the day before the rally, if you want to attend and pick up some skills. So there is that. So as promised, here is who is going to be there. and if you have any questions, email us.
· Reverend Dr. William Barber II, Moral Monday leader and chapter leader of North Carolina NAACP
· Congressman John Sarbanes, Maryland – District 3
· Larry Cohen, President, Communications Workers of America
· Phil Radford, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA
· Marge Baker, Rally co-host and Executive Vice President, People For the American Way
· Blair Bowie, Rally co-host and Democracy Advocate, US PIRG
· Liz Kennedy, Counsel, DEMOS
· Mary Boyle, Vice President of Communications, Common Cause
· Josh Silver, Director, Represent.Us
· Matthew Segal, President, Our Time
· Steve Cobble, Senior Political Advisor, Free Speech For People
· David Borris, Executive Committee Member, Main Street Alliance
· Brendien Mitchell, Howard University Fellow, Young People For
· Craig L. Rice, Maryland State Director, Young Elected Officials Network
· Tom Blackton, Retired Teacher/School Principal, Center For Community Change
If anybody is interested in going, email us at wcl.dems@gmail.com so we can give the coordinators an idea of who is going!
wcldems 