Cultural Change for the We the People Amendment

[seventh in the series] 

The American Revolution was the first time a European colony gained independence. The new nation, based on the principles of a republic, inspired many successive revolutions across the globe. 

There was widespread acceptance, if not support, for the British monarchy in the beginning. The King or Queen was not only the head of government and the Church of England and had command of one the most powerful military forces in the world, but benefited from the widespread belief that they possessed the “divine right” to rule.

Cultural Change for the We the People Amendment

[sixth in the series] 

The modern LGBTQ+ movement is  dated to the Stonewall Riots, a spontaneous rebellion led by queer patrons – many of them people of color and transgender – against police harassment at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969.

The struggle for the dignity and rights of LGTBQs+ individuals and “against a system that criminalized their love lives and outward expression” dates to the 1950’s. The dominant religious and social narrative labeled them as perverse, sinful or mentally ill. They were victims of discrimination and violence. Being outed could mean imprisonment, loss of employment, or institutionalization. Criminalized love lives and outward expression.

Stonewall represented a collective resistance to be silent and shamed, but as human beings who sought not merely to be tolerated but who demanded liberation.

Personal transformation connected to Stonewall sparked the birth of a mass movement composed of political and cultural elements. 

This We The People Wednesday, we are celebrating a historic victory - and issuing a call to action.

Last night, in a major upset, Zohran Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo and the political establishment in the NYC mayoral race - a powerful example of what’s possible when grassroots movements organize, mobilize, and fight for bold, popular demands. This was a win for the people, by the people, and it sends a clear message: we don’t have to accept billionaire rule and corporate dominance as inevitable.

But we must keep going.

“Independence Day” is coming up soon. July 4 is a Friday. There will be many public events that day and weekend: parades, fireworks, festivals, block parties, picnics, etc.

What better time to follow up “No Kings Day” protests where we called for No Kings, No Corporations: Rejecting Authoritarian and Corporate Rule with actions to Declare Independence from Corporate Rule. 

On this Juneteenth, we pause to honor the end of slavery in the United States—a defining milestone in our collective pursuit of justice, liberation, and true democracy. But while Juneteenth marks freedom delayed, it also reminds us: the struggle for equality is not over.

At Move to Amend, we believe Juneteenth is not just a day of remembrance—it is a call to action.

Juneteenth symbolizes the long fight to end systemic oppression. At its heart, it echoes the very mission of our movement: to dismantle the structures that continue to uphold inequality, to ensure that democracy serves all people—not just the wealthy and powerful.

As you may know, Move to Amend is a national grassroots coalition committed to passing the We the People Amendment (H.J.Res.54) — an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would:

- End corporate personhood, because corporations are not people and should not enjoy the same rights as living, breathing human beings.

- Make clear that money is not speech, so political power can no longer be bought and sold to the highest bidder.

Here’s why this is so relevant today:

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people, and prohibited states from infringing upon the fundamental rights of citizens. The Amendment has been hijacked, exploited by corporations to gain rights and power never intended for them. Supreme Court cases in the 1880's set the stage for this betrayal of justice—using the language of equality to serve corporate interests.

This perversion of justice is a direct affront to the spirit of Juneteenth.

We believe reclaiming the 14th Amendment is essential to fulfilling its original promise—and to confronting the economic and political systems that continue to harm Black, Brown, Indigenous, and working-class communities. Corporate influence fuels policies that perpetuate poverty, environmental destruction, mass incarceration, and voter suppression.

The wait is almost over—tonight’s Corporate Coup Report drops at 4pm ET / 5pm MT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET and you won’t want to miss it!

As we protest authoritarianism this Saturday—and legitimately condemn the many anti-democratic and unjust actions of Trump—let us also remember the tyranny of our corporate overlords who have been—perhaps more quietly but not less aggressively—eroding our democracy.

by GREG COLERIDGE, Common Dreams, June 11, 2025

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/no-kings-corporate-power

The “No Kings Day” mass rallies and marches this Saturday across the country will be, hopefully, a political and cultural affirmation of the democratic vision that we should be a self-governing people, a vision that has never been fully realized. The events must not only reject the reemergence and expansion of authoritarianism of Trump from his previous administration. They should also acknowledge the much longer tyranny and authoritarianism of corporate rule.

Speeches, signs, chants, and petitions will undoubtedly address the numerous authoritarian actions by the Trump administration since the election. These include pardons and immunities for loyalists, the use of federal agencies against political opponents, use of disinformation and threats against elected officials, mass deportations and family separation, executive orders that trump local and state governments, government loyalty purges, crackdown on the media and dissent, and militarized response to protests – such as the overreacting deployment of the Marines in response to the largely peaceful protests against ICE immigration raids in Los Angeles.

As we protest authoritarianism this Saturday—and legitimately condemn the many anti-democratic and unjust actions of Trump—let us also remember that tyranny has many symbols. One is a red hat. The other is a corporate logo.

The No Kings Day actions are just the latest and important public resistance to Trump’s tyrannical actions that have included other nationwide demonstrations and civil disobedience, legal challenges, whistleblowers and leaks, mutual aid, sanctuary networks, state and local government pushback, worker and union actions, and campus resistance.

Yet the reality is that Trump and his Project 2025 playbook represent one form of authoritarianism that, while distinct in some respects, intersects with another deeply entrenched form: corporate domination.

Move to Amend is a partner of the June 14 NO KINGS National Day of Action and mass mobilization - organized in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump regime. 

We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech (of people, not corporations), detained people for their political positions, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire and corporate allies. They think they rule—but we are more powerful than even their worst aspirations.

While flagrant and unapologetic authoritarian rule efforts are recent, corporate rule has gone on for more a century. Shielded by Supreme Court-anointed constitutional rights, corporations have crushed our efforts to provide quality health care, shelter, food, education and employment to all, a livable natural world and a real democracy.

That's why Move to Amend will call on June 14 to 
End Authoritarian AND Corporate Rule

We are asking our supporters to join thousands of people for No Kings Day in their local communities. This is an important moment to raise up the We the People Amendment.

Here's how you can help:

At Move to Amend, we believe real change starts at the grassroots level, and we are proud to highlight the incredible work our affiliates and advocates are doing in their communities. This month, we are shining a spotlight on our dedicated affiliates from Move to Amend Miami County, Ohio, who have been making waves both locally and nationally.