Eight Advocacy Groups Host ‘We The People 2020: Protecting Our Democracy a Decade After Citizens United’ Forum; HuffPost to Moderate
Contact: Angela Bradbery, Public Citizen, abradbery@citizen.org, (202) 588-7741
Jay Riestenberg, Common Cause, jriestenberg@commoncause.org,
(202) 736-5741
Laurie Kinney, People For the American Way, lkinney@pfaw.org,
(202) 467-2307
Bawadden Sayed, End Citizens United Action Fund, bawadden@endcitizensunited.org,
(202) 798-5253
Anna Zuccaro, MoveOn, press@moveon.org
Liam Sullivan, Brady, lsullivan@bradyunited.org,
(202) 370-8128
DES MOINES, IOWA – Top presidential candidates will speak at a forum to mark 10
years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and discuss
their plans to end the dominance of big money in politics, protect the right to
vote, ensure fair courts and create a democracy that works for all of us. The
event, “We The People 2020: Protecting Our Democracy a Decade After Citizens
United,” is hosted by a diverse group of advocacy organizations and
will be moderated by HuffPost. It will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, two days
before the 10-year mark of the court’s decision and just weeks before the Iowa
caucus.
Candidates scheduled to attend include U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind., will also appear via livestream. Additional attendees may be added, and attendees are subject to change.
HuffPost’s Amanda Terkel and Kevin Robillard will moderate. Press can RSVP here. An ASL interpreter will be available at the event.
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Common Cause
End Citizens United Action Fund
MoveOn Political Action
NAACP
People For the American Way
Progress Iowa
Public Citizen
WHERE: Des Moines Curate Event Center
322 E. Court Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa
WHEN: 3 p.m. CST, Sunday, Jan. 19. A livestream of the event will be
available.
SUBJECTS ADDRESSED: Candidates will address the most pressing issues facing our democracy, specifically relating to:
- Campaign finance reforms,
including corporate PAC donations and how candidates have opted to finance
their campaigns.
- Anti-corruption and ethics
issues, including lobbying restrictions and corporate influence in politics.
- Voting rights, including access
to polling locations, early voting, felon re-enfranchisement, the restoration
of the Voting Rights Act and gerrymandering.
- Election security, including
cybersecurity and election infrastructure.
- Fair courts and appointing
judges who believe the Constitution protects all of us, not just the wealthy
and powerful.
These issues go to the heart of our democracy. They impact whose
voice is heard and whether progress can be made on issues that a majority of
Americans want to see addressed, such as access to health care, ending gun
violence and education.
About Brady:
Brady has one powerful mission — to
unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and
our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and
old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common
sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for
over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this
epidemic ends. It’s in our hands. Learn more: https://www.bradyunited.org
About Common Cause:
Common Cause is a nonpartisan,
grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American
democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that
serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and
representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in
the political process. Learn more: https://www.commoncause.org
About End Citizens United:
End Citizens United Action Fund
works with four million members to call their elected officials, host petition
drives, participate in letter to the editor campaigns, and join coalitions of
other grassroots advocacy groups to pass legislation to help get big money out
of politics. Learn more: https://endcitizensunited.org
About MoveOn Political Action:
MoveOn Political Action represents
the collective will of MoveOn’s millions of members at the ballot box by using
people power to help elect progressive candidates. MoveOn members live in every
congressional district in the country and come from all walks of life. We
organize together to advance a vision of a world with a place of honor and
dignity for everyone—where all are welcome, where we take care of each other,
and where everyone is set up to thrive. moveon.org
About the NAACP:
The mission of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to secure the
political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to
eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all
persons. Learn more: https://www.naacp.org
About People For the American Way:
People For the American Way is a
progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and
build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality,
opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend
fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable
opportunity. Learn more: http://www.pfaw.org
About Progress Iowa:
Progress Iowa is a multi-issue
progressive advocacy organization. Year-round, we promote progressive ideas and
causes with creative earned media strategies, targeted email campaigns, and
cutting-edge new media. Learn more: https://progressiowa.org
About Public Citizen:
Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. We defend democracy, resist corporate power and work to ensure that government works for the people – not for big corporations. Founded in 1971, we now have 500,000 members and supporters throughout the country. Learn more: https://www.citizen.org