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Citizens United ruling protested by Occupy demonstrators in downtown LA
An Occupy supporter hold up a sign that reads "Power to the People Not Corporations."
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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Dozens of Occupy protestors listen to Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans speak outside of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse.
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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Several people listen to Jodie Evans express her opposition to the Citizen's United ruling.
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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An Occupy supporter holds a "People Before Profits" sticker.
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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One of the main themes of today's demonstration was that corporations should not have so much influence in the US political system.
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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The begging of a 20ft long poster documenting significant legal milestones in the development of rights for corporations versus those for people.
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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Corey Bridwell/KPCC
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At least 100 Occupy activists demonstrated near the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Friday. The target of the protests? The landmark 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, that allows corporations to spend money on federal elections with few restrictions.
According to Occupy organizer and attorney Pete Thottam, the 2010 Citizens United court ruling sets American democracy back.
“We have a plutocracy now," Thottam said. "Those who have money basically buy politicians, dictate legislation, finance campaigns and call the shots. The 1 percent that owns 43 percent of the national wealth — 56 percent of the financial wealth — basically control the lobbyists that run J street, K street, Sacramento, D.C.”
The rally turned out fewer people that previous Occupy demonstrations, but that didn’t matter to activist Velvet Victorian of L.A. She said she considers the national day of protest a wake-up call against what she described as “corporate greed that’s gotten out of hand.”
“I know that most people don’t either have the time or the guts [to protest]," said Victorian. "I just feel that it has to stop. I mean, they’ve stolen almost everybody I know's house. Luckily, I didn’t buy one. Maybe after all this is over, I can afford to buy one."
Organizers said that more than 100 cities across the country are launching a petition for a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Citizens United court ruling, which turned two this year.
The national grassroots coalition “Move to Amend” organized Friday's protest.
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