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.

This is bigger than political disagreement. They’ve defied our courts, deported American citizens, disappeared people off the streets, and slashed our services—all while orchestrating a massive giveaway to their corporate allies. Enough is enough. For anyone who thinks it's gone too far, this moment is for you.

NO KINGS is a National Day of Action and mass mobilization 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 bigger than even their worst aspirations.

• Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14. This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his image as a strongman on our dime—we won’t stand by while that happens.
  
  
• Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics, corruption and the ongoing Corporate Coup.
  
  
• Alongside local organizers, partners, and leaders from across the pro-democracy & pro-worker movement, we will demonstrate organized people power that outpaces any authoritarian aspirations.
  

   

  Join or organize a local no King's Day Event (CLICK HERE)

Cultural Change for the We the People Amendment

[fifth in the series] 

Organized working people in factories, farms, offices and other settings have been historically the most powerful constituency in the U.S. to check corporate power and the capitalist economic system. There is an inverse relationship between the power of workers and organized capital, that is, corporations (especially when allied with the government) – which is sometimes called “fascism.” Privileges and rights granted to corporations and property were – and remain – privileges and rights denied to human beings. 

 . 

Poster. By Ricardo Levins Morales

At the time of the American Revolution, 95 percent of the population was engaged in farming. Most of the rest were individual craftsmen, skilled in the hands-on creation and restoration of objects.  

Craftsmen, including carpenters, were among the first workers to collectively organize themselves into independent groups – called unions. Many originally focused on mutual aid. Their education and advocacy led to an executive order in 1840 establishing the 10 hour workday for government employees and workers on government contracts.

The industrial revolution transformed work and workers in the U.S. in the 1840s as craftsmen, and former farmers began working in factories in New England. Poor working conditions, hazardous environments, long hours, low wages, child labor, and widespread pollution were common.  Additionally, the concentration of people in urban areas where factories were located led to overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions. 

Workers began educating themselves about the nature of their condition, including that only a small percentage of their time they labored went to pay their wages; the rest of the time paid for the factory, materials, tools and the income and profits of the corporate owners. They developed a class consciousness, that is, an understanding and awareness of their collective position in society, particularly as it related to the property owning class. This resulted in greater worker solidarity and a commitment to create a more just society. This represented the start of the labor movement. 

Amidst the current political turmoil, you may have missed that the House of Representatives is working to pass a “budget reconciliation” bill by Memorial Day. A “budget reconciliation” provides specific details and changes to a previously approved comprehensive, outlined “budget resolution.” The House passed a budget resolution last month. The House “reconciliation” allows Congressional approval of a bill by bypassing or fast-tracking a “filibuster” (i.e. 60 vote majority support) in the Senate. Only a simple majority of 51 votes would be required for passage. 

The Republican-led House is touting a "big, beautiful" reconciliation bill that massively rewards corporations and the wealthiest, while punishing low-income individuals and families, along with millions of others.

Corporate constitutional rights (also known as “corporate personhood”) were essentially “born” on this day in 1886 with the Supreme Court case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad. The article below, published on this date last year, explores how this decision and those that followed have empowered corporations to override our rights and limit our ability to protect and improve our lives, families, communities, and the natural world.

We mark this anniversary each year to underscore a critical reality: corporate constitutional rights did not begin with the 2010 Citizens United decision. Nor are they limited to the Supreme Court’s creation of corporate First Amendment “free speech” rights.

This is exactly what makes Move to Amend unique among democracy-focused organizations. Simply reversing Citizens United or ending corporate political speech rights is not enough to achieve real democracy -- because we’ve never had a legitimate democracy.

That’s why we have always -- and always will -- call for the abolition of all corporate constitutional rights and for ending the doctrine that money spent in elections is equivalent to speech -- core elements of our We the People Amendment (HJR54).

______

Let’s Wish Corporate Constitutional Rights a Very Unhappy Birthday

                                                                   
(Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

GREG COLERIDGE & JENNIE SPANOS
May, 10, 2024
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/corporate-constitutional-rights