April, 11 2016, 12:00pm EDT
![Public Citizen](https://assets.rbl.ms/32012683/origin.png)
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Contact: Angela Bradbery, Public Citizen, abradbery@citizen.org, w. (202) 588-7741, c. (202) 503-6768
Laura Epstein, People For the American Way, lepstein@pfaw.org, w. (202) 467-2386, c. (301) 325-4538
Democracy Awakening: At Mass Convergence on Washington, D.C., People Demand Government of, by and for the People
April 16-18 Mobilization Features Teach-ins, Rally, March, Civil Disobedience; Speeches by the Rev. William Barber II, Dolores Huerta, Sandra Steingraber, Others
WASHINGTON
WHAT: Thousands of activists from around the nation will stream into the nation's capital April 16-18 for Democracy Awakening, a three-day event featuring a rally, march, teach-ins, lobbying and civil disobedience. Democracy Awakening plans to fight back against business as usual in Washington, D.C., and demand a democracy that works for everyone, not just corporations and the wealthy. The message: On voting rights, money in politics and the vacancy on U.S. Supreme Court, Congress is failing to do its job and ignoring the will of the people.
More than 260 organizations have signed up to support or attend the landmark mobilization. It is a broad coalition of organizations representing the labor, peace, environmental, student, racial justice, civil rights and money in politics reform movements. Lead organizations include the American Postal Workers Union, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, Democracy Initiative, Every Voice Center, Food & Water Watch, Franciscan Action Network, Greenpeace, NAACP, National Nurses United, People For the American Way, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, Student Debt Crisis and U.S. PIRG.
Democracy Awakening is part of a broad movement aimed at gaining democracy reforms. The action started April 2, with Democracy Spring, an event that features a march from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., followed by five days of sit-ins at the Capitol starting Monday, April 11. The Democracy Spring marchers set out in the rain this morning to travel 16 miles to Baltimore. A day after Democracy Spring ends, Democracy Awakening will begin.
Media should RSVP by emailing or calling one of the people listed above. Please also contact the people listed above to schedule an interview with one of the local or national leaders participating.
DETAILS:
Saturday, April 16 - Teach, Learn, Transform
Saturday will feature teach-ins, workshops and non-violent direct action trainings by leaders from around the country.
Where: All Souls Church Unitarian, 2835 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
When: 1-1:50 p.m.: Kickoff Panel: Voting Rights, Money In Politics United in Struggle
Panelists include Marge Baker (People For the American Way); Ari Berman (The Nation)
2-2:50 p.m.: 1st Workshop Block
Workshops will be held on the environment and democracy; attacks on unions, voting rights and campaign finance laws; the role of money in politics as it relates to the military, and D.C.'s struggle for voting rights.
3-3:50 p.m.: 2nd Workshop Block
Workshops will be held on criminal justice reform; building youth power; boosting small donor involvement in elections; digital tools used in grassroots activism; and bringing this national movement to district elections.
4-4:50 p.m.: Solutions
Activists will learn about key campaigns for protecting and expanding voting rights, curbing money in politics and assuring a Supreme Court nominee is confirmed.
5-5:50 p.m.: State/Local Breakout Sessions
Facilitators will outline winnable efforts for voting rights and money in politics reforms in various states.
7-9 p.m.: Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films presents Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA
Sunday, April 17 - Rally for Democracy
On Sunday, thousands of people will participate in a rally and march at the U.S. Capitol.
Where: The events will take place in front of the U.S. Capitol, at Third St. NW in front of the Capitol reflecting pool between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive NW.
When: 12:30-1 p.m.: Music and Gathering (Funk band Aztec Sun will perform)
1-3 p.m.: Rally for Democracy
Featured rally speakers include: The Rev. William Barber II, leader of the N.C. Moral Monday Movement; Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers; radio commentator Jim Hightower; environmental activist Sandra Steingraber; and civil rights activist David Goodman. See a complete list of speakers, presenters and panelists.
3-4 p.m.: March around the Capitol
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Faith Rally in Columbus Circle
Monday, April 18 - Congress of Conscience Day of Action
Activists will be on Capitol Hill for a day of non-violent direct action and advocacy.
Direct Action: 9-9:30 a.m.: Rally in Columbus Circle in front of Union Station
9:30 a.m.: Walk to the Capitol for civil disobedience
Advocacy: Local and national leaders will join Democracy Awakening participants to lobby members of Congress to protect and expand voting rights, enact money in politics reforms and fill the Supreme Court vacancy.
Where: The Capitol
When: 12:30-4:30 p.m.
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.
(202) 588-1000LATEST NEWS
BREAKING: Biden to 'Stand Down'; Endorses Kamala Harris
' I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year'
Jul 21, 2024
Breaking News...more to come
UPDATE : In response to President Biden’s announcement that he is no longer seeking reelection, MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting released the following statement:
“President Joe Biden‘s legacy is defined by defeating Donald Trump, restoring our nation’s commitment to our democracy, and delivering one of the most impressive domestic policy agendas in modern history. Just like he did in 2020, President Biden is making a tremendous personal sacrifice to preserve our democracy, putting the interest of the American people first, and he has the gratitude of our nation and our millions of members.
“Vice President Harris is tested and respected, and her voice is critically important at this moment. MoveOn and our members have her back and believe that those who share our commitment to winning this election and protecting our futures will do everything in their power to lift her up and stop Trump in his tracks.
MoveOn is more driven than ever to unifying the anti-Trump coalition and defeating Donald Trump and extremist MAGA Republicans once again in 2024. We are all in on electing Kamala Harris and Democrats to the U.S. House and Senate and we look forward to engaging our members and surge voters across the country to rise up and make their voices heard this fall.”
President Joe Biden has made the decision to not run for president. Read his just released statement below.
Keep ReadingShow Less
Israeli Military Strikes Claim Lives of 64 Individuals in a Single Day
'When is enough? When will the war ever end?'
Jul 21, 2024
The local Health Ministry says at least 64 people were killed and 105 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours. Many victims are still under the rubble and on roads, with civil defense crews not able to reach them, it adds.
The Israeli military has launched numerous deadly strikes focused on the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, including the targeting of multiple UN-run schools housing displaced people.
Nuseirat residents described living in constant fear of being bombed and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
“The situation is scary,” said Rahma Abu Hajjaj, a 39-year-old mother of five from Nuserirat. “There are no warnings, there are no alarms when homes are bombed, we are hiding all the time and we do not know why they are targeting these homes.”
"We hear the sounds of explosions in Nuseirat and we see the smoke rising from here in Deir Al-Balah, the last refuge you can say and we are being terrorized by the feeling tanks may roll here," Tamer Aburakan, a resident of Gaza City, told
Reuters.
"Where should we go next? The entire Gaza Strip is under fire, and we are being hunted like deer in a forest. When is enough? When will the war ever end?" he said via a chat app.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to travel to the US on Monday. Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon. The next day, he is due to address a joint session of US Congress.
Thousands of people are expected to protest against the visit of Netanyahu for whom the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for war crimes.
At least 38,983 Palestinians have been killed and 89,727 others injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, Gaza's health ministry said on Sunday, including the 64 people killed in the last 24 hours.
Keep ReadingShow Less
Israel Bombs Yemen Saturday in Escalation with Houthis
The attack came a day after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv
Jul 20, 2024
Houthi-run media say Israeli air strikes Saturday targeted oil storage facilities in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah and that there are an unspecified number of fatalities and injuries.
The attack came a day after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv that killed one person and struck just yards from a U.S. Embassy branch office.
Israel’s air strikes will not stop the Houthi's military operations in support of the Palestinian people, Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said in a post on X, warning they will instead increase until the war in Gaza ends. “The Zionist entity will pay the price for targeting civilian facilities, and we will meet escalation with escalation,” al-Bukhaiti wrote.
Military and political analyst Elijah Magnier told Al Jazeera, “Is this going to change the course of action of a non-state actor that is motivated to support the people of Gaza? Certainly not,” Magnier said. “They’ve been given a perfect reason to increase the attacks. We have not seen the end of it – far from it,” he said.
In another post on X, the Houthis’ spokesman, Mohammed Abdulsalam, called the Israeli air strikes “a brutal Israeli aggression against Yemen that aims to deepen people’s suffering and to pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza.” Abdulsalam called the attack an Israeli “dream that will not come true. We affirm that this brutal aggression will only increase the determination of the Yemeni people and their valiant armed forces to be steadfast and to continue their support for Gaza. The Yemeni people are able to face all challenges for the sake of victory for oppressed Palestine and the people of Gaza, whose cause is the most just on earth.”
Keep ReadingShow Less
Most Popular