National Democracy Activist to Speak in Salem - USA Democracy in Crisis?

“We are inspired by historic social movements that recognized the necessity of altering fundamental power relationships,” - David Cobb.

(SALEM) - David Cobb, a fiery, humorous Texas orator, lawyer and former Green Party Presidential candidate, will be in Salem the evening of April 17th to address our declining democracy and the importance of amending our Constitution to end corporate control of our society and government. The event is free to the public. Donations appreciated.

David gave up his law career to dedicate himself to re-instating participatory democracy in our country. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Green Institute and in various roles with the Sierra Club, the Liberty Tree Foundation, the Program on Corporations Law and Democracy, and is a founder and spokesman for the national Move to Amend coalition.

“We are inspired by historic social movements that recognized the necessity of altering fundamental power relationships,” said Cobb. “Move to Amend is a long-term effort to make the U.S. Constitution more democratic.” His talk is entitled "Creating Democracy & Challenging Corporate Rule."

MTA is dedicated to the creation and adoption of a constitutional amendment to limit the power of corporations in our society, achieved with court decisions, since the 1880's, granting corporations the constitutional rights of human beings. The most recent, sweeping example is the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling that corporations could spend unlimited money on political campaigns, local, state and national, under 1st Amendment free speech protections.

Ariel Osborne, president of Environmental Community Outreach Society said, “We are supporting this talk because we want to raise awareness, to help people make the connection that there are real environmental and natural resource protection issues we need to address that we can't due to the stranglehold corporations and monied interests have on our political system.”

Kerry Topel, chair of Marion-Polk Move To Amend commented, “We need to reclaim our democracy from the corrupting effects of overbearing corporate influence by amending the U.S Constitution to establish that corporations are not entitled to constitutional rights granted to people, and that regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting free speech.”

There will be a pre-event reception and silent auction at 5:30. Media representatives are invited to interview Mr. Cobb, and many gift items will be available. This event is sponsored by Willamette University's Environmental Community Outreach Society and Marion-Polk Move To Amend.

Tuesday, April 17, 7:00 PM
Willamette University
900 State St NE, Salem
Smith Auditorium