Join the Mass Civil Disobedience

Whether we chose to stand up and march or eagerly followed the movement through social media, the Occupy Wall Street protest that began in September 2011 resonated through us all. Finally, a group of our fellow countrymen was strong enough to speak up and demand attention for the entire 99 percent of the population burdened by the uncontrollable power of that seemingly small 1 percent. These voices brought the issues of both Big and Dark Money to the table. How was such a select group of corporations growing ever so BIG and why was all of their money hidden in such DARK places? After the streets were cleared and the picketers lowered their signs, this time the dust didn’t settle. Instead, a group of energetic and unsatisfied Occupiers decided to remain banded together to form 99Rise, a conscious effort to respond to the crisis originally dramatized by Occupy Wall Street.

Never before attempted in the United States, 99Rise will begin a nationwide movement waging a nonviolent revolution to get Big Money out of American Politics. According to 99Rise, there is over $900 million in political Dark Money. The team demands an immediate release of all records of any anonymous political expenditures from associated corporations. If these demands are not met by this Friday, September 28, a Mass Civil Disobedience will commence in Los Angeles and New York City; that is, an active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of an occupying power. This activism is similar to ideas presented decades ago by Henry David Thoreau in his essay Civil Disobedience; “Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?” This nonviolent struggle will continue through the month of October in other cities across the country in a patriotic march upon offices, lobbies, and headquarters of the organizations at the forefront of “the secret sale of our democracy.” They intend to occupy these locations peacefully and refuse to leave until “all records of anonymous or unreported political spending” are disclosed to the American public.

“A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority” (Thoreau), so together we fell and together we shall Rise through the efforts of this venture. The Grand Strategy for this organization is to “reclaim democracy from the rule of Big Money by winning an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that bans all private money from public elections and establishes that all money is not speech and corporations are not people.” In order to achieve such goals, @99rise will need the help of a larger portion of said 99 percent, and that means you. There are many ways to get involved in the movement, all of which are outlined on the organization’s website. You can sign the Nonviolent Army Pledge and join 10,000 others this spring in the Largest Civil Disobedience Action in American History. If you want to start a nonviolent revolution in your local community you can check out the Training Calendar to take part in DNA Training.

Or you can really get things going by joining the 30+ backers who have already decided to StartSomeGood by pledging to sponsor this campaign. 99Rise reached its $2,200 tipping point this past weekend, which will sustain the team through the month of October and will fund travel for expansion into 2-4 new cities. Reaching the $6,800 total funding goal will also allow the movement to bring on two additional organizers and expand into 6-10 new cities. Whether you have former Occupy experience or you are joining the cause to reform a government truly of, by, and for the people, know that every voice counts; “for it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever” (Thoreau).

Nick Kovaleski

conservative conservationist, environmental innovator, lost in translation, @babson educated, trying to @addmoregreen. a connecticut native who followed his intuition to his current home in australia. here to share my insight on sustainability and green living in an effort to re-educate mankind. avid runner, healthy vegetarian, green-thumbed gardener, meandering life’s path.