Free Speech For People
Free Speech For People is creating people-powered change, and they need your help. Please read below to learn more about the issues they're working on and how you can get involved. Thank you!
Campaigns
-
The Constitution Makes Clear: Insurrectionists are BARRED from holding future officeThe coordinated and violent attack on the United States Capitol in an effort to prevent Congress from certifying the presidential vote on January 6, 2021 was an insurrection against the United States. Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment makes clear that anyone who has previously sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, and then engages in “insurrection or rebellion” against the United States (or provides “aid or comfort” to its enemies) is permanently disqualified from holding future public office. Publicly available evidence establishes that Rep. Paul Gosar helped facilitate the insurrection, before, during, and after January 6, 2021. Not only was he among a handful of Congress members who expressed vocal support for the insurrection as it was happening , but, according to news reports, Gosar went so far as to offer organizers of the pre-attack demonstration a “blanket pardon” in connection with unrelated criminal investigations, encouraging what would no doubt be an illegal act of violence. In the weeks leading up to January 6, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly stated that violence might be necessary to keep Trump in power, exhorted her followers not to allow Congress to transfer power peacefully, and, the night before the attack, called the date “our 1776 moment” (a codeword used by violent extremists to refer to an attack on government buildings). Greene has since attempted to defend the violence on January 6 as justified by the Declaration of Independence, calling convicted participants in the insurrections “political prisoners of war”. In December 2022, she bragged that “if” she had organized the attack, “we would have won. Not to mention, it would’ve been armed.” Rep. Lauren Boebert echoed Greene’s coded sentiments during the insurrection, tweeting “Today is 1776.” She was billed as a speaker for the pre-attack Capitol protest, though she did not speak. Three days prior to the insurrection, Boebert released an ad featuring herself walking through federal buildings while brandishing a firearm, pledging to carry a handgun in the Capitol despite DC laws banning open carry. In addition, two Jan. 6th organizers told Rolling Stone of “dozens” of planning meetings with Boebert and several other Congress members in the days leading up to the insurrection. Free Speech For People has spearheaded the nationwide legal effort to hold insurrectionists accountable for their role in the violent assault on American democracy that took place on January 6th, 2021. Yet, despite a wealth of evidence indicting Gosar, Boebert and Greene for insurrectionist activity, Secretaries of State and chief election officials have thus far failed to follow the mandate of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The task has now fallen to American voters to urge our Representatives to do their duty and challenge the qualifications of Gosar, Greene, and Boebert under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. Photo: Brett Davis, CC2.0 license137,429 of 200,000 SignaturesCreated by Alexandra Flores-Quilty
-
Launch an impeachment inquiry against Justice Brett KavanaughIn a March 2021 letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse argues that the FBI’s 2018 investigation into sexual assault allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was “politically-constrained and probably fake.” According to the letter, the FBI failed to conduct a thorough review of the evidence against Kavanaugh, including ignoring a tip line for allegations and evidence and refusing to hear witness testimony. Free Speech For People has repeatedly called for Kavanaugh’s impeachment on the basis of perjury, as well as on sexual assault allegations and an overt display of political bias during his confirmation hearing. The case for impeachment has only grown as he continues to bring the judiciary into disrepute.303 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Alexandra Flores-Quilty
-
Tell Attorney General Merrick Garland: Investigate Trump and AssociatesFor at least the past five years, Donald Trump, and his aides and associates, have engaged in a flurry of unethical, unconstitutional, and often criminal activity, culminating with the seditious insurrection on the United States Capitol on January 6th, incited and encouraged by the Trump and his allies. If we are to begin the process of restoring the integrity of the Department of Justice and the rule of law to our nation, it is essential that the Department thoroughly investigate these actions and, where warranted and appropriate, hold accountable those who have violated the nation’s laws.39,948 of 40,000 SignaturesCreated by Alexandra Flores-Quilty
-
President Obama, make amending the Constitution a top priorityPresident Obama has criticized the Citizens United decision and said a constitutional amendment to overrule it may be necessary. (see http://bit.ly/Ub9cxd ) But will he fight for it? The answer may be up to us. In his victory speech, President Obama said to Americans that the election... "doesn’t mean your work is done. The role of citizens in our democracy does not end with your vote. America’s never been about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us together through the hard and frustrating, but necessary work of self-government." Now, while the memory of $6 billion spent on the election -- and of the ugly, divisive ads that money bought -- is still fresh, is the moment for us to urge President Obama to lead on this issue. Imagine how much better that money could have been spent. And imagine how much stronger America would be.823 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Peter Schurman
-
Maine can help overturn the Citizens United decision.State Senator Richard Woodbury (independent) has introduced an official resolution calling on the U.S. Congress "to pass a constitutional amendment to reverse the ruling of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission." Citizens United was the infamous decision that said corporations have the same "free speech" rights as people and that has allowed unlimited campaign spending by corporations and individuals, drowning out the voices of regular people. Twelve states have now officially called for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Citizens United decision. It's time for Maine to join them. Ask your State Senator and State Representative to co-sponsor Senator Woodbury's resolution. And be sure to join us at 10 AM on Monday, April 29th, at the State House in Augusta, to present this petition to the legislature.4,613 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Peter Schurman
-
Amend the constitution: corporations are not peopleIt's clear that we've got to amend the U.S. Constitution to overrule the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. But most of the amendments in play in Congress deal only with the problem of money in politics (see http://FreeSpeechForPeople.org/node/441 ). That's important, but we have to go deeper too: Citizens United also said corporations have constitutional rights, like free speech, as if they were people. This gives corporations the power to get the courts to throw out all kinds of laws they don't like - including food labeling, health, environmental, and civil rights laws as well as laws on money in politics. We need an amendment that makes it clear that people, not corporations, are in charge of America. The People's Rights Amendment, H.J. Res 88, does this (see http://PeoplesRightsAmendment.org ). It has extensive bipartisan support in the House but has not yet been introduced in the Senate. That's why we need your help. Please sign on, then spread the word. Thanks, from the whole team at: http://FreeSpeechForPeople.org3,596 of 4,000 SignaturesCreated by Peter Schurman
-
Divest Trump SoHoJoin the campaign urging CalPERS and the New York State Common Retirement Fund to Divest Trump SoHo. We the people have the power to hold Donald Trump accountable to the U.S. Constitution. Right now, the hard-earned dollars of state employees like firefighters, police officers, and public workers are being paid into a real estate fund that transfers millions to the Trump Organization to manage the Trump SoHo in New York City, New York. Those payments from state pension funds fall into a scheme that ultimately puts money directly into President Trump’s pockets and violates the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the New York State Common Retirement Fund have a long history of leadership on ethics, corporate governance, and transparency. As fiduciaries, they also have a responsibility to act according to the highest ethical standards and legal standards and to avoid conflicts of interest.167 of 200 SignaturesCreated by John Bonifaz