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Street Theater Protest of the Citizens’ Loss of Free Press Rights Under Campaign Finance Laws Will Be Performed By The De-Pressed Citizens Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at Noon In Front of the Federal Courthouse (Old Main Post Office) 601 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY

This street theater will entertain you while showing the harmful effect of campaign finance laws.  You will see and hear a king and his Herald, representing the Royal Press, while the Federal Election Commission hauls the regular folks off to jail for trying to pass out leaflets promoting their views on abortion, the environment, labor unions, guns, etc.  The Statue of Liberty also will make a guest appearance!

Imagine how our country’s history would have been different if campaign finance laws had prevented Thomas Paine from publishing his pamphlet “Common Sense”, which sparked the American revolution!  From Abolitionists to Union Organizers, all the political movements throughout our country’s history have relied on the people’s right to freedom of the press to present their views through fliers, pamphlets, and, more recently, through other media such as television and radio ads.  But now the people have lost that right.

The U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on the campaign finance laws on Sept. 8, but the plaintiffs who are arguing that the laws are unconstitutional because they violate the people’s first amendment right to freedom of the press will not be allowed to speak, thanks to KY Senator Mitch McConnell, who requested their time for his own position to be heard. 

Campaign finance laws have restricted the right of Americans to use the press and other media to promote their views, threatening us with fines and imprisonment if we dare to publish or air advertisements without jumping through a maze of regulatory hoops.  However, at the same time, the establishment media, including foreign-owned corporations, are exempt and can freely publish or air any candidate endorsement or viewpoint they choose.  Thus, the campaign finance laws have created a two-tiered system of rights, with people who work for the media being treated as royalty and having tremendous power, while the rest of us have become de-pressed serfs.  The De-Pressed Citizens urge our fellow citizens to speak out and demand an end to this injustice.

For more information, contact Greg Holmes (502) 458-6171.

Also see http://www.TakeBackAmerica.tv

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