Free Speech For People today joined with more than fifty prominent, national organizations to express their concern about two critical threats to our democratic system: corporate influence in elections and laws and official actions that suppress the vote. Under the banner “Money Out, Voters In,” the organizations issued the following joint statement pledging to fight special interest money in politics and to support the rights of all voters:

Within the next week, citizens in every state will come together to cast their votes for President, Congress, and other state and local offices. The right to cast those votes – to elect leaders who represent us – is at the heart of our democratic system. But this year, that right is in danger.

Our system of fair and free elections is under attack on multiple fronts. The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United opened the floodgates for special interest money and corporate influence in politics. At the same time, a rash of voter suppression laws in more than 30 states has threatened to make voting difficult, if not impossible, for millions of Americans.

Throughout the history of our nation, powerful politicians and interest groups have tried to block eligible voters from casting a ballot. For much of the twentieth century, they used literacy tests or demanded poll taxes. Today they ask for photo voter ID, or create restrictive voter registration schemes. These laws, combined with the challenge posed by limitless corporate influence, strike at the very core of our democracy.

Our nation’s history has been a journey towards true equality and the promise of a government of, by and for the people. Just as we have overcome many obstacles to achieve that promise, we are now committed to standing up against the pervasive, corrupting influence of an electoral system that auctions offices to the highest bidder and suppresses the vote of millions of Americans.

No matter what happens on November 6th, these threats must be addressed on November 7th and beyond. Together with our allies across the political spectrum, we pledge to fight for the rights of all voters in our nation and to move that much closer to creating a more perfect union. The future of our democracy depends on it.

Signatories:

350.org
AFL-CIO
AIDS United
All Education Matters
Alliance for a Just Society
Alliance for Justice
American Sustainable Business Council
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote
Ben & Jerry’s
Center for Media and Democracy
CODEPINK
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America
Constitutional Accountability Center
Consumer Action
CREDO Action
DC Vote
Democracy 21
Democracy Unlimited
Democrats.com
Demos
Ethical Markets Media, Florida
Franciscan Action Network
Free Speech For People
Greenpeace
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Main Street Alliance
Move to Amend Coalition
MoveOn.org Political Action
NAACP
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Congress of Black Women, Inc.
National Council of Jewish Women
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The New Bottom Line
New Progressive Alliance
People For the American Way
Pesticide Action Network North America
Project Vote
Public Campaign
Public Citizen
Rock the Vote
RootsAction.org
Sierra Club
U.S. PIRG
United for a Fair Economy
United Steelworkers International Union
unPAC
WarIsACrime.org
We the People Campaign

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