FW: Supreme Court decision Public Forum, April 11

[Tom Fewel]

Dear HKonJ partner,

 

On January 21, 2010, in a decision that strikes at the heart of our democracy, a divided Supreme Court ruled on the basis of the free speech principle of the First Amendment that government can not regulate political speech by corporations.  The potentially far-reaching 5-4 decision overturned a century of established law and will stand as a clear case of judicial activism on the part of the conservative Roberts court.

 

What is at stake is whether the powerful corporations that dominate our economic system will also control our elections, our government, and our laws, or whether the public through its elected representatives will control the economic system for the benefit of all.  The Citizens United decision further tilts the balance toward the corporate special interests.

 

The Progressive Democrats of North Carolina are presenting a public forum on the decision at the Carrboro Century Center at 4:00 pm on Sunday, April 11.  The attached flier provides details.  Please circulate it to your organization's distribution list.  

 

To build support for the event and for the legislative effort to minimize the damage to our democracy from this judicial outrage, we are seeking co-sponsors for the event - no obligation other than to encourage your organization's membership to attend and to help publicize the event.  If  your organization is willing to be listed as a co-sponsor, please let me know.

 

Jack Sanders

jacks...@nc.rr.com

[Domenic R. A. Powell]

HK on J members,

Point Twelve of the fourteen points calls upon us to "protect the rights of immigrants from Latin America and other nations." 

Right now, three brave young women are in the sixth day of a hunger strike for the DREAM Act. They are not eating a single bite until Kay Hagan co-sponsors the bill. That would make her the fortieth sponsor--a major milestone for the bill. 

Because there is no independent path to citizenship for the children of alien minors, a grassroots student movement has brought up the DREAM Act as a real and viable first step in immigration reform. The bill would allow young people who were brought to this country before the age of 16 and have been here for five consecutive years or more to gain residence through going to college or military service. It is not amnesty--it is a path to citizenship earned through hard work. 

They need all the help they can get--especially from the faith community. 

We are keeping a blog at http://ncdreamteam.wordpress.com. There you can get regular updates, learn about these tough-as-nails freedom fighters and find out how you can help. 

We are also holding a vigil tomorrow at 8pm-930p on the corner of Wilmington and Lane in Raleigh. Please come, and thank you for your prayers and your thoughts. 

Thank you,

Domenic Powell