11:30 AM - 12:30 PM  Tuesday, January 21, 2020 on the tenth anniversary of Citizens United, one of the most devestating blows to our Democracy.    "Funeral for Democracy -  If we'd only done something sooner!"  will take place in front of the New Hampshire State House on City Hall Plaza, by the Main Street side of the arch.     Please help us with some street theatre to make a point about the state of our Democracy.

We need mourners, dressed in black, to carry Democracy's coffin (Yes, we have one) down the sidewalks in downtown Concord, then have a funeral at noon in front of the State House.  We'll have eulogies from James Madison, Betsy Ross, Gerry Mander, Sue Pression, who will wonder if we could have saved Democracy if we'd only taken to the streets to take action before the people's power was taken from us by special interests. 

There is likely to be press at this event, so you may want to review this 10th anniversary of Citizens United report from our research friends at the Center for Responsive Politics, creators of the Open Secrets web site.   The damage done is astounding.  

We need lots of pictures taken and shared of this one.   Don't miss it! 

If you have questions, contact Brian Beihl or call or text 603-620-8300.   

You are cordially invited to a nonpartisan luncheon honoring America's campaign finance reformer, Doris "Granny D" Haddock next week, Thursday, January 23, noon, at St. Paul's Church basement, across the street from the State House.    "Granny D Day" has been proclaimed by Governor Christopher Sununu for the next day, January 24. 

Frustrated with the corruption she saw in Washington politics, Doris hatched an audacious plan.   She would walk across the United States -- at 89 years old -- to bring attention to that corruption and rally support to change the system.    Granny D started her epic 3,200-mile walk for campaign in 1999 and gathered hundreds of thousands of supporters, not only for her campaign finance reform work, but for showing what a single person can do to make change.  

When she arrived Washington, she was escorted by none other than U.S. Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold, whose legislation, the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act passed shortly after, thanks in part to Granny D's efforts.

The Luncheon Program
Lunch will include sandwiches, chips, drinks and birthday cake.   Vegan options will be available.  

Our program includes a welcome by Doris Haddock's grandson Lawrence Haddock, as well as anecdotes from Francie Von Mertens of Peterborough, a friend and volunteer support staffer for for Doris' walk.  Other speakers include co-sponsors of upcoming 2020 Democracy reform legislation, including a new bill to make January 24 a permanent "Granny D Day" in New Hampshire to help raise her profile as an important figure in New Hampshire history.

Offspring of Granny D's ivy plant will again be available for legislators to take home and remember her by.

                           
To assist the Open Democracy Action staff in food preparation, if you would be kind enough to RSVP,  we would appreciate it.

If you have special dietary needs, please send them to Doreen Desmarais at doreen@opendemocracy.me.