Democracy Spring

{{Short description|US progressive social movement organization}}

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{{Infobox civil conflict

| title = Democracy Spring

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| image = Democracy Spring, elders edition (26374271156).jpg

| caption = Democracy Spring protesters at the United States Capitol building, April 2016

| date = April 2016 - Summer 2019{{cite web |title=Democracy Spring is no more.... but you can still see their effects across the Democracy Movement. |url=https://www.mohpa.org/democracy-spring |website=MarchOnHarrisburg}}

| place = Washington, D.C.

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| goals = Electoral reform

| methods = Civil resistance

| status = Dissolved{{cite web |title=Democracy Spring is no more.... but you can still see their effects across the Democracy Movement. |url=https://www.mohpa.org/democracy-spring |website=MarchOnHarrisburg}}

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| detentions = 900–1,200

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Democracy Spring was a progressive social movement organization based in the United States that used campaigns of escalating nonviolent civil disobedience to build active public support to "end the corruption of big money in politics and protect the right to vote for all Americans."{{cite web|url=http://www.democracyspring.org/about|title=About Democracy Spring|url-status=usurped|access-date=September 29, 2016|archive-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002155642/http://www.democracyspring.org/about}}

The organization began as a coalition of "more than 100 progressive groups" with a common interest in US federal legislation intended to reduce "the influence of money in politics" and "expand and protect voting rights." A ten-day non-violent protest march was held in April 2016 from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. Its demands included the passage of several bills such as those to improve voter rights and empowerment and require fair elections. During the course of the protest, 900 to 1,200 individuals were arrested.

The group disbanded in 2019.{{cite web |title=Democracy Spring is no more.... but you can still see their effects across the Democracy Movement. |url=https://www.mohpa.org/democracy-spring |website=MarchOnHarrisburg}}

Actions

= 140-mile march to U.S. Capitol and sit-ins =

A group of Democracy Spring participants began a ten-day march from Philadelphia to Washington, DC on April 2, 2016. The initial events received widespread coverage on social media, and outlets like NPR and C-SPAN, while cable news networks devoted little time to the protests.{{cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2016/04/12/democracy-spring-media-coverage/|title=Cable News Devotes 30 Seconds to Mass Arrests Protesting Political Corruption|work=The Intercept|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=May 17, 2016}}

The protest began with a rally and participants included progressive political commentator Cenk Uygur, actress Rosario Dawson, educator and activist Lawrence Lessig, author Frances Moore Lappé,{{Cite web|url=http://yesmagazine.org/people-power/what-i-learned-from-my-march-with-democracy-spring-20160412|title = What I Learned from My March with Democracy Spring}} Chris Hedges,{{Cite web|url=https://www.truthdig.com/articles/revolution-is-in-the-air-2/|title = Revolution is in the Air| date=April 17, 2016 }} filmmaker Annabel Park, Ben & Jerry's founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield,{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2016/04/19/ice-cream-barons-ben-cohen-and-jerry-greenfield-arrested-in-democracy-now-protest/ |title=Ice cream barons Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield arrested in Democracy Spring protest |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 19, 2016}} and "many attendees sporting Bernie Sanders clothing and signs."{{cite news|last1=HELLER|first1=CORINNE|title=NEWS/ Rosario Dawson Arrested at Washington, D.C. Protest, Says Police Acted "Really Lovely"|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/757431/rosario-dawson-arrested-at-washington-d-c-protest-says-police-acted-really-lovely |access-date=April 16, 2016|agency=E! Online|date=April 16, 2016}}{{cite journal|last=Rampell|first=Ed|title=Cenk Uygur|journal=The Progressive |volume=76|issue=8|url=https://www.questia.com/library/1G1-299257454/cenk-uygur|access-date=June 30, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Cenk Uygur bringing Young Turks to TV|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2011/09/20/Cenk-Uygur-bringing-Young-Turks-to-TV/UPI-47921316531009/|newspaper=UPI|date=September 20, 2011}} Demonstrators slept in local churches and at a tent set up near Union Station with a permit.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/15/rosario-dawson-arrested-us-capitol-demonstrations|title=Rosario Dawson arrested during pro-democracy sit-in at US Capitol|author=David Smith|work=the Guardian|date=April 15, 2016}}

The first day of nonviolent protest during the April mobilization drew over 600 people to the United States Capitol building, where over 400 were peaceably arrested. The group demanded a "Congress of conscience" pass laws related to voter representation that would encourage small political contributions, constrain large and undisclosed political contributions, end gerrymandering, and reinstate mechanisms from the Voting Rights Act. The group also demanded a hearing for President Barack Obama's Merrick Garland Supreme Court nomination, which was postponed by the legislature. NPR found the event to be "cheery and peaceful" and a Capitol Police officer said that unless the protesters had outstanding warrants, they would "merely be processed, cited with a fine, and released."

Police arrested 85 activists on that second day, and organizers said it was the largest mass arrest at the Capitol building in history.{{cite news|last1=Ciaramella|first1=CJ|title=Dozens of Senior Citizens Were Arrested at 'Democracy Spring' DC Protests|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dozens-of-senior-citizens-were-arrested-at-democracy-spring-dc-protests/|access-date=April 12, 2016|publisher=Vice News|date=April 12, 2016}} The second protest held hundreds of participants, many of whom were elderly. More protests were planned daily throughout the week and over 3,500 people across 33 states pledged to participate. On the third day around 100 protesters were arrested.{{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2016/4/14/headlines/100_arrested_at_democracy_spring_protests_against_money_in_politics |title=100 Arrested at "Democracy Spring" Protests Against Money in Politics |work=Democracy NOW! |access-date=April 14, 2016}} A dozen protesters were arrested inside the Capitol building's rotunda and 130 arrested outside on the fourth day.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/democracy-spring-protesters-arrested-capitol-rotunda-38435909 |title='Democracy Spring' Protesters Arrested in Capitol Rotunda |work=abc News |access-date=April 15, 2016}} The dozen indoor protesters had zip tied themselves to scaffolding in an attempt to occupy the Capitol building.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/democracy-spring-activists-occupy-us-capitol-rotunda/ |title=A Group of Democracy Spring Activists Occupied the US Capitol |work=VICE News |date=April 15, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2016}} By Saturday, over 900 activists had been arrested in total over the week.{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/16/hundreds-democracy-spring-protesters-arrested-dc/83123326/ |title=More than 900 'Democracy Spring' protesters arrested in D.C. - so far |work=USA TODAY |access-date=April 17, 2016}} The Independent Voter Project reported that by Monday over 1200 had been arrested in total.{{cite web |url=http://ivn.us/2016/04/18/over-1200-protesters-arrested-democracy-spring/ |title=Democracy Spring: Over 1,200 Anti-Corruption Protesters Arrested in D.C. |work=Independent Voter News |access-date=April 19, 2016 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422172133/http://ivn.us/2016/04/18/over-1200-protesters-arrested-democracy-spring |url-status=dead }}

Democracy Awakening, which is closely aligned with Democracy Spring, followed up Democracy Spring's April protest with a protest of their own in a similar fashion at the U.S. Capitol. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Ben and Jerry's co founders, were among approximately 300 people arrested as part of the "Democracy Awakening" protests.Junkins, Kayla (MAY 2016). [http://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1019&context=honors_theses "CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAKE OF CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC 2010"]. UNDERGRADUATE HONORS THESIS – University of Massachusetts. Retrieved NOV 17, 2016 – via Google Scholar.{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/18/politics/ben-jerry-democracy-awakens/index.html|title=Ben & Jerry's co-founders arrested at Capitol|work=CNN |author=Diane Ruggiero |author2=Daniella Diaz|access-date=2016-11-19}}

= Democratic National Convention =

In the lead up to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, the strategic leadership of Democracy Spring issued four demands to the Democratic National Committee. The demands were that the party commit, within the first 100 days of a new Congress and presidential administration, to reverse Citizens United v. FEC, ensure publicly funded elections, and restore the preclearance provisions Voting Rights Act, which were made effectively unenforceable by Shelby County v. Holder.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/06/details-on-shelby-county-v-holder-in-plain-english/|title=Details on Shelby County v. Holder: In Plain English|date=June 25, 2013|work=SCOTUSBlog}} The fourth demand, reflecting that the first three looked forward to January 2017, was that the Democratic Party immediately abolish the superdelegate system as a show of good faith. Democracy Spring promised civil disobedience outside the convention if the demands were not met.

Democracy Spring activists were barred from entry to the DNC's Rules Committee meeting{{cite web|url=http://www.justicenewsnetwork.com/democracy-spring-locked-out-of-the-rules-committee-video/|title="Democracy Spring" locked out of the rules committee [VIDEO] – Justice News Network|first=K. Timothy|last=Lippert|date=July 23, 2016}} where changes to the superdelegate system were being discussed. Activists claimed victory after the committee voted for a 2/3rds reduction in the role of superdelegates.{{cite web|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/superdelegates-dnc-rules-reduced|title=DNC Rules Meeting Agrees To A Compromise On Superdelegates|date=July 24, 2016}}

The first day of sit-ins outside the Democratic National Convention resulted in more than 50 arrests.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/democracy-spring-dnc-protest-philadelphia/ |title=More Than 50 Democracy Spring Activists Arrested Outside the DNC|website=CNN|date=July 25, 2016}} On the third day of the convention, Democracy Spring staged another sit-in, this time inside the convention perimeter, by "diverting and distracting" police.{{cite tweet|number=758499193065353216|user=leslieleeiii|title=#DemocracySpring staged a brilliant protest inside the Green Zone by diverting and distracting cops. @DemSpring|date=July 27, 2016}} This second action resulted in dozens more arrests.

Demands

According to its website,{{cite web|title=OUR DEMANDS|url=http://www.democracyspring.org/demands|website=Democracy Spring|access-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416042634/http://www.democracyspring.org/demands|archive-date=April 16, 2016|url-status=usurped}} Democracy Spring has identified the following measures whose adoption would "restore the people's voice in government":

Pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H. R. 2867, S. 1659)
Pass the Voter Empowerment Act (H. R. 12)
Pass the Democracy For All amendment (H. J. Res. 22, S. J. Res. 5)
Pass the Government by the People & Fair Elections Now acts (H. R. 20 and S. 1538)

Media

Notable participants and endorsers

The following individuals attended at least part of the April 2016 mobilization:

Rosario Dawson,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/15/rosario-dawson-arrested-us-capitol-demonstrations|title = Rosario Dawson arrested during pro-democracy sit-in at US Capitol|website = TheGuardian.com|date = April 15, 2016}} actress
Sam Waterston,{{cite web |url=http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=16091#pop1 |title=Democracy Spring Protesters Stop in Baltimore En Route to DC |website=therealnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410220328/http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=16091 |archive-date=2016-04-10}} actor
Lawrence Lessig, educator and activist
Gaby Hoffmann,https://www.facebook.com/events/1162854197087942/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} actress
Frances Moore Lappé, author
Chris Hedges, author
John Pudner, conservative political figure and founder of Take Back Our Republic
Annabel Park, filmmaker
Jodie Evans,{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.thenation.com/article/open-letter-lets-get-arrested-to-save-democracy-from-the-billionaire-class/|title = Open Letter: Let's Sit-In to Save Democracy from the Billionaire Class|date = December 2, 2015|last1 = Bazzini|first1 = Rhana|last2 = Benjamin|first2 = Medea|last3 = Cohen|first3 = Ben|last4 = Evans|first4 = Jodie|last5 = Huff-Hannon|first5 = Joseph|last6 = Lessig|first6 = Lawrence|last7 = Mandle|first7 = Joan|last8 = Newkirk|first8 = Kai|last9 = Saavedra|first9 = Carlos|last10 = Selah|first10 = Umi|last11 = Song|first11 = Paul|last12 = Teachout|first12 = Zephyr|last13 = Uygur|first13 = Cenk|last14 = Wong|first14 = Winnie|access-date = December 22, 2017|archive-date = September 1, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190901184014/https://www.thenation.com/article/open-letter-lets-get-arrested-to-save-democracy-from-the-billionaire-class/|url-status = dead}} political activist, author, and documentary film producer
Umi Selah,{{cite web| url = https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4588648/umi-selah-democracy-spring| title = User Clip: Umi Selah - Democracy Spring {{!}} C-SPAN.org}} co-founder and mission director of the Dream Defenders
Ben Cohen, Ben & Jerry's co-founder
Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry's co-founder
Cenk Uygur, political commentator
Medea Benjamin, activist and author
Joan Mandle, executive director of Democracy Matters
Adam Eichen,{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dozens-of-senior-citizens-were-arrested-at-democracy-spring-dc-protests/|title = Dozens of Senior Citizens Were Arrested at 'Democracy Spring' DC Protests| date=April 12, 2016 }} author

The following individuals did not attend the April 2016 mobilization but offered an endorsement:

Mark Ruffalo,{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-greenberg/democracy-spring-heralds-_b_10148402.html|title=Democracy Spring Heralds the end of Money in Politics|website=HuffPost|date=June 6, 2016}} actor
Noam Chomsky,{{cite news |last1=Shekhtman |first1=Lonnie |title=Hundreds arrested at US Capitol at 'Democracy Spring' protests |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2016/0412/Hundreds-arrested-at-US-Capitol-at-Democracy-Spring-protests |work=Christian Science Monitor |date=April 12, 2016}} public intellectual
Frances Fox Piven,{{cite tweet|number=729324370842112000|user=DemSpring|title=#DemocracySpring is reclaiming our democratic rights from the business-backed juggernaut that dominates US politics. |date=May 8, 2016}} public intellectual
Zephyr Teachout, Law Professor and former candidate for Congress

References

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/11/politics/democracy-spring-arrests-protests-washington/ |access-date=April 12, 2016 |title=Hundreds of 'Democracy Spring' protesters arrested at Capitol Hill sit-in |last1=Krieg |first1=Gregory |date=April 11, 2016 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413210745/http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/11/politics/democracy-spring-arrests-protests-washington/ |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/11/473874785/hundreds-protest-gerrymandering-campaign-finance-laws-on-capitols-steps |access-date=April 12, 2016 |title=Hundreds Protesting Political System Arrested on Capitol's Steps |last1=Overby |first1=Peter |date=April 12, 2016 |publisher=NPR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412122510/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/11/473874785/hundreds-protest-gerrymandering-campaign-finance-laws-on-capitols-steps |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hundreds-arrested-at-us-capitol-during-democracy-spring-campaign-finance-protests/ |access-date=April 12, 2016 |title=Hundreds Arrested at US Capitol During 'Democracy Spring' Campaign Finance Protests |last1=Mimms |first1=Sarah |date=April 11, 2016 |work=Vice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420091225/https://news.vice.com/article/hundreds-arrested-at-us-capitol-during-democracy-spring-campaign-finance-protests |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |url-status=live}}

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