To the editor:

July Fourth is coming and we feel it is a perfect time to announce that many of us are joining in the movement to take our elections back from extremely wealthy individuals and the profit-driven corporations.

We are losing our “For the people, by the people” democracy. The 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision was disastrous, opening floodgates of undisclosed financial influence over our elections.

The ruling affirmed that corporations are “people” and established that the money they donate to campaigns is considered free speech protected under the First Amendment. In order to be heard, a person running for office must now accept huge contributions. If they are elected and want to win again in the next race, that person must address the needs of the corporation that “bought” them their elected seat.

It is time to roll up our sleeves and fix this problem. The first step is to come together as citizens of our community and proclaim that these fundamental principles are unassailable: “Corporations are not people and money is not speech.”

Move to Amend volunteers on Bainbridge Island are collecting petition signatures asking our Bainbridge Island City Council to pass a resolution urging the Washington State Legislature to call on the Congress to amend the Constitution, declaring that “Corporations are NOT People” and “Money is NOT Speech.”

Let’s make Washington the

16th state to do this. Please sign the petition when you see volunteers in town, or go to www.mtak-petition.org to read and sign online. Be a part of this growing movement to protect our democracy. More information at www.movetoamend.org/wa-bainbridge-island. Join us!

BOBBIE MORGAN, MAURIE LOUIS, JONATHAN MANHEIM, KAT GJOVIK, NORM KEEGEL, LARISSA CRETAROLO, ELLEN WILLIAMS, ERNIE WILLIAMS, JONATHAN QUITSLUND AND LISA LEWIS