List of Reverse Citizens United Events
2012
July 27 – United States of ALEC documentary: This 32 minute film was narrated and produced by Bill Moyers. Reverse Citizens United (RCU) Co-founder Jim Allison spoke as did RCU member and Common Cause Indiana Board Member Jan Ellis at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington.
2014
April 1, June 5 – Robert Reich’s Film Inequality for All: Free showing of the former Labor Secretary’s film explaining why things seem so out of balance now–first at the Monroe County Public Library Bloomington and then the Ellettsville Branch Library. A discussion followed.
July 4 – Parade Entry with corporate person Octi, a creation of community artist Joe LaMantia. Won Best Walking Entry. We entered every year it was held until 2020 when it was cancelled due to COVID. In 2021 the parade was changed so that cars drove by stationary exhibits. We again participated in 2022 with Octi in a truck bed instead of on his roller cart, but that was our last year. Co-sponsors were the Indiana coalition for Public Education, Democracy for Monroe County, the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, the Indiana Forest Alliance, Indivisible 9th District, CWA Local 4730, and Planned Parenthood at various parades.
September 8 – Bopp-Cobb Debate: David Cobb & James Bopp debated the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v Federal Election Commission at the Sherman Minton Moot Court Room in Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. Co-sponsors were The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Law and Public Policy Program and the Maurer Law School American Constitution Society; both Indiana University Bloomington entities. Terre Haute attorney James Bopp argued in favor of the ruling; Spokesman for Move to Amend David Cobb, against.
September 9 – Book Signing Corporations Are Not People and Talk: At Barnes and Noble Book Store Author Jeff Clements talked about his new edition of Corporations Are Not People, first published in 2012. Clements served as Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts and founded Free Speech for People on the day of the 2010 SCOTUS decision in Citizens United v. FEC. This non-profit and non-partisan group files innovative and groundbreaking legal actions on this issue of unregulated money in politics. Then in 2016 he founded American Promise to help groups across America to promote adding a 14th amendment saying corporations are not people nor money, speech.
2015
April 15 – One Dollar One Vote Panel: Moderator Marjorie R. Hershey and Panelists Greg Knott, Paul Helmke, Matt Pierce, and Lee H. Hamilton discussed whether democracy will survive Citizens United from Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian perspectives in the Moot Court Room of the Indiana University Bloomington Maurer School of Law.
2016
April 16 – Bloomington Democracy Awakening March: Inspired by a national call for action Democracy Awakening 2016 to protest how Congress was failing our democracy, a march was held around the Courthouse in Bloomington on the sidewalk. A noise permit was required and secured. A Dixieland Band played and about 40 folks marched with signs. There was much press coverage. Our interns passed out flyers on campus. Co-sponsor was the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, but there were folks from the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan n/k/a Medicare for All Indiana, Democracy for Monroe County, and Jobs for Justice.
May 1 – Wendell Potter & Nick Penniman Nation on the Take: FIX IT, Healthcare at the tipping point book tour at the Buskirk Chumley sponsored by Hoosiers for a Commonsense Healthplan. Co-sponsors League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County and Reverse Citizens United.
July 27 – Protest ALEC Rally: During the first day of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) annual meeting in Indy a rally was held and then a march to their meeting nearby. The coalition joining with Reverse Citizens United included the Central Indiana Labor Council, Citizens Action Coalition, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU Healthcare, Teamsters Local 135, United Auto Workers Local 933, American Federation of Teachers Indiana, Know No Stranger, Sierra Club, Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor, Center for Inquiry Indiana, Planned Parenthood Indiana/Kentucky, Jobs with Justice, Indiana State Association of Letter Carriers, Hoosier Environmental Council, Democracy for Monroe County, Just Education Coalition, Indiana Moral Mondays, North Central American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Common Cause, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Forward Together Terre Haute, Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance, Parent Power, Students Against State Violence, and United Steel Workers Local 1999.
2017
May 4 – Gerrymandering film: Following the screening was a Q&A and light refreshments at the Monroe County Public Library Bloomington. Co-sponsors were The League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County and Democracy for Monroe County.
2018
August 8 – The Brainwashing of My Dad documentary sponsored by Democracy for Monroe County at the Monroe County Public Library room 1B. RCU promoted.
October 21 – Dark Money-Follow the Money Ryder Film: This political thriller explored the greatest political threat we face today through personal stories of how they were affected by the 2010 Citizens United decision at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington. Co-sponsors the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County and The Ryder Film Series.
November 15 – Call Out & Legislative Organization Day Stop the Gerrymander from Eating YOUR Vote: A meeting moderated by Beverly Stoeltje was held at the Monroe County Bloomington Public Library. Reverse Citizens United Co-founder Jim Allison gave a general background of the issue. Co-sponsors were Earth Care, Social Justice Circle of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Democracy for Monroe County, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Citizens for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel, Monroe County National Organization for Women, Women 4 Change, Bloomington Friends Meeting, and League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County.
November 20 – Legislative Organizational Day: Organized by the Common Cause Indiana coalition for Independent Redistricting aka ALL IN FOR DEMOCRACY the League of Women Voters Indiana Debbie Asberry led a rally at the Indiana State Capitol. An actor dressed as Elbridge Gerry gave a speech. Following the rally there was a short march to the ALEC meeting with our signs and chants.
2019
July 17 – Gerrymander Meander Progressive Picnic: Hosted by the Indiana Coalition for Independent Redistricting aka ALL IN FOR DEMOCRACY the meander began at Arsenal Park in Indy for hot dogs/hamburgers/ veggie equivalents to hear Senator Greg Taylor. The walking, biking, or driving north on the Monon Trail to Canterbury Park to hear Senator John Ruckelshaus, State Reps. Ed Delaney and Carey Hamilton while having cake and ice cream. Cars from Bloomington went up with the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County and Reverse Citizens United folks.
September 17 – Trevor Potter “Constitutional Challenges for our Democracy”: Former Republican Chair of the Federal Elections Commission (and Stephen Colbert’s satirical super-PAC lawyer to educate the public about the problematic complexities of campaign finance law) Trevor Potter spoke about the Roberts Supreme Court’s wrong turns on campaign finance, gerrymandering, and voting rights at the Moot Court in Indiana University’s Maurer Law School. Co-sponsor was the American Constitutional Society Indiana University Maurer Chapter. A reception followed in the lobby.
September 22 – Film Screening Charlie vs Goliath: This award-winning documentary of an ordinary man’s extraordinary struggle to shake up the political establishment in deep-red Wyoming was a fundraiser for Common Cause Indiana (CCI) at the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church in Bloomington. Co-sponsors were UU Reproductive Justice Task Force, Monroe County National Organization for Women, & Reverse Citizens United. Special Guest was CCI Policy Director Julia Vaughn.
October 19 – Truth Matters/RYDER film “The Brainwashing of My Dad”: This documentary by Jen Senko examined the transformation of her father from a nonpolitical, life-long Democrat to an angry right-wing fanatic and was shown at the Buskirk Chumley Theatre. A Q&A followed with Moderator Alex J. Semchuck, an associate professor of communication at Ivy Tech Community College. Panelists were Jen Senko, an award-winning producer, director, and documentary filmmaker via Skype; Jason Peifer, assistant professor of journalism IU Bloomington; and Filippo Menczer, professor of informatics and computer science, Indiana University Bloomington. Co-sponsors were Bloomington Friends Meeting; Bloomington Peace Action Coalition; Citizens for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel; City of Bloomington Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs; Common Cause Indiana; Democracy for Monroe County; Libertarian Party of Monroe County; Limestone Post Magazine; Monroe County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Reverse Citizens United; Southern Indiana Regional Labor Council-White River Chapter; Time to Choose Coalition; Unitarian Universalist Racial Justice Task Force; and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
2020
January 6 – All IN for Democracy Press Conference at the Statehouse in Indianapolis where electeds signed a pledge to support redistricting.
February 2 – Slay the Gerrymander: This workshop in the Monroe County Public Library Bloomington Auditorium showed part of Trevor Potter’s recorded talk at the Maurer School of Law the fall of 2019, then Reverse Citizens United Co-founder Jim Allison gave some background on how our Indiana legislators chose their voters. Trevor Potter is the former Republican Chair of the Federal Elections Commission, and Stephen Colbert’s satirical super-PAC lawyer to educate the public about the problematic complexities of campaign finance law. Q&A followwd. Co-sponsors were Women 4 Change Indiana, Democracy for Monroe County, Monroe County National Organization for Women, the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, and Citizens for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel.
June 18 – Virtual Premiere of UnCivil War: U.S. Elections Under Siege: This documentary about voter suppression included a segment on Indiana’s fight for redistricting reform by Hoosier native, Tom Glynn was seen online. Following was an opportunity to ask questions of ALL IN FOR DEMOCRACY coalition leaders Julia Vaughn of Common Cause, Debbie Asberry of the League of Women Voters Indiana, and the filmmaker.
July 24 – Green Drinks Bloomington held an event about redistricting with Common Cause Indiana Policy Director Julia Vaughn at Upland Brewery. Co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County and promoted by RCU.
2021
2021 Listserv Campaign with Minute Men Alerts about Freedom to Vote Act: “According to the Brennan Center for Justice ‘The Senate’s recently introduced Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) incorporates most of the critical provisions from the For the People Act (FTPA), landmark voting rights and anti-corruption legislation that passed the House of Representatives in March 2021. [But] it also includes new, much-needed safeguards against attempts to undermine the electoral process.’” We also sent letters to Senator Todd Young’s top donors Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Eli Lilly & Co, Hanning & Bean Enterprises Inc., Pacers Sports & Entertainment, & Padgett Inc. to encourage them to pressure Senator Young. Further, we sent out press releases to The Indianapolis Star, News and Tribune in Albany, and The Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne.
March 10 – “Speak Up“ for Democracy: ALL IN FOR DEMOCRACY, a coalition set up by Common Cause Indiana, set up a virtual conversation with District 9 to gather public input that should be used to draw district maps. The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) wanted to create buzz around the new district voting maps. It was endorsed by Reverse Citizens United, the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Bloomington-Monroe County, the LWV Brown County, the LWV South Central Indiana, the National Organization for Women, and the Monroe County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
July 26 – All IN for Democracy rally in Indianapolis in front of Senator Mike Braun and then Senator Todd Young’s offices. Letters to the CEOs of Indiana companies Berry Global, Inc., Cummins Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Corporate Center, Thor Industries Corporate Office, and Zimmer Biomet asking them to bring pressure to bear on the two Indiana Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun to support “For the People Act.”
August 6 – Senate Elections Committee Redistricting Public Hearing: Several Reverse Citizens United members attended and spoke at the Ivy Tech Columbus campus. We were notified of this public hearing by the League of Women Voters of Indiana Co-president Linda Hanson.
August 8 – House Party on Redistricting 2021: Doug and Susan Davis had 10 come to a house party where the documentary by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County and Gerrymandering Basics from YouTube was shown. Lunch was served following a discussion.
September 28 – National Voter Registration Day: Reverse Citizens United set up a registration table at Morgenstern’s Bookstore and Café from 2-8 p.m., the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County at Meadowood Senior Living Community from 9:30 a.m. to noon, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at My Sister’s Closet from noon to 6 p.m.
2022
2022 Listserv & Facebook Campaign Media, Money, and Politics with alerts about candidates and choices. There was a focus on Democratic candidates that favored progressive ideas: Secretary of State candidate Destiny Scott Wells, CD9 Senate candidate Tom McDermott, and CD House candidate Matt Fyfe.
2023
2023-24 Listserv & Facebook Campaign Follow the Money with alerts about votes and donors for the follow electeds: State District 60 Peggy Mayfield, State District 62 Dave Hall, State District 46 Bob Heaton, and CD9 Rep Erin Houchin with kitchen table issues.
2024
June 6 – Duke Rate Hike Roundtable: Former Mayor of Bloomington & Co-founder of Reverse Citizens United Tomi Allison was moderator at Red Bud Books on the massive proposed utility rate hike. Panelists included HD61 Representative Matt Pierce; Citizens Action Coalition Executive Director Kerwin Olson; Professor Emeritus Psychological & Brain Sciences & Co-chair of Reverse Citizens United Jim Allison; HD60 Candidate Michelle Higgs; Sierra Club Political Chair Neil Goswami; SD40 Senator Shelli Yoder; and Co-director Rural Engagement-Monroe County Democrats Ryan Still.
Reverse Citizens United 