Imagine standing in the Supreme Court chambers 169 years ago today, as Chief Justice Roger Taney delivers the infamous ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford. The words hang heavy in the air—words that strip away the very humanity of an entire people. Words that declare, without hesitation, that Black individuals "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect."

Dred and Harriet Scott had dared to dream of freedom, had fought courageously in the courts, and had even tasted victory—only to have it cruelly overturned by the highest court in the land. And yet, their loss was not just personal. It set a chilling precedent: that property rights outweighed human rights, that the expansion of slavery could not be curbed, and that the Constitution itself was never intended to include people of African descent.

We know how this story continued. The abolitionist movement erupted with renewed fury. The Civil War raged. The 13th and 14th Amendments were passed, bringing the legal end of slavery and a promise—however fragile—of citizenship and equal protection under the law.

But what if we told you that the Dred Scott ruling was never formally overturned?

What if we told you that, in 2016, it was still being cited as legal precedent—used in an attempt to deny women their constitutional rights in a Kansas court case? 

This case, and so many others, reveal a deeper truth: that the U.S. Constitution has always prioritized property rights above human rights. That the Supreme Court has consistently worked to protect those with power—whether it be slave owners in 1857, or massive corporations today.

It is no accident that, while the 14th Amendment was passed to secure rights for Black Americans, it was soon wielded to grant "equal protection" to corporations instead—birthing corporate personhood in 1886. Ever since, corporations have exploited constitutional protections far more than any human being ever could.

So, what do we do? We must recognize that true liberation will not come from the Supreme Court. It will come from us.

That is why we are organizing for House Joint Resolution 54, the #WeThePeopleAmendment—a bold step to declare that constitutional rights belong only to human beings, not corporations, and that money is not a protected form of free speech. This amendment could overturn every harmful precedent dating back to 1886, dismantling the legal framework that allows corporations to hold more power than people.

But passing this amendment requires more than policy changes. It demands a movement. A movement as bold, deep, and relentless as the abolitionists who fought against Dred Scott’s ruling. A movement that doesn't just reform, but reimagines. One that dismantles a system built on genocide, slavery, and subjugation—and replaces it with one founded on human rights, justice, and the rights of nature over property.

Are you ready to build that movement with us?

The Supreme Court will not liberate us. But together, we can liberate ourselves.

Join us for “Organizing for the We the People Amendment” on March 10. There are two times available to meet your busy schedule.

History has shown us that real change is made by the people. Let’s make it happen—together.

Move to Amend National Team