Money Is NOT Speech

CWAers and allies rally outside the Supreme Court to protest this week's disastrous decision that gives the super-rich even more sway and control over our democratic election process.

The Supreme Court's long-awaited decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, announced this week, has given the super-rich an even greater say in elections and our democracy.

By a 5-4 decision, the Court struck down aggregate contribution limits, so that one super-wealthy donor now can inject up to $3.6 million into our politics – to candidates and parties – shattering one of the remaining campaign finance laws on the books.

What does this decision mean for ordinary Americans? Check out this video from Demos, a CWA ally.

In a statement, CWA said that "the Supreme Court continues to confuse money and speech, causing real harm to our democratic election process."

"Thanks to Citizens United, we already know how the Court's decision will further erode our democracy and disenfranchise ordinary Americans. The super-rich will join corporations in using their millions to pressure elected officials for special access, policy agendas and tax breaks and to flood the airwaves with anonymous political messages. Working and middle class families will find their voices even more diminished. The result likely will be even more "pay-to-play politics" and political inequality than we've seen since the 2010 Citizens United decision, and even more disillusionment in the political process by ordinary Americans. Decisions by this Supreme Court have made it more difficult for ordinary Americans to vote in an election, but also have made it much easier for the super-rich to buy an election.

Money does not equal speech. We cannot stand by while the super-rich and corporations have an even greater say in our democracy just because they have fatter wallets. That's why CWA has joined with other groups in the Democracy Initiative to promote public financing and fight the ever increasing amount of big money in politics," CWA said.

Immediately following the decision, CWA activists and allies protested outside the U.S. Supreme Court and at more than 150 other actions in 41 states and DC.

Check out this video of the action outside the Supreme Court where CWAers, allies, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and other speakers pledged to fight back against money in politics.