Lawyer, activist and 2004 Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb is in town today to talk about repealing Citizens United and corporate personhood.

ATHENS, GA–The Georgia Move to Amend group will host a community forum on “Creating Democracy and Challenging Corporate Rule” with guest speaker David Cobb of the Move to Amend campaign. Part history lesson and part heart-felt call to action, the event will be in Room 141 at the University of Georgia’s Tate Center (45 Baxter St, Athens, GA) from 4:00-6:00 PM on December 7th. Immediately following the presentation, there will be a social hour at The Globe (139 Lumpkin St).

The recent U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending on elections. Cobb, an attorney and organizer for the Move to Amend coalition, will help local residents understand the history behind the recent decision and how they can work to abolish "Corporate Personhood" and reestablish a government of, by, and for the people.

“Corporate Personhood” commonly refers to court-created precedent that gives corporations constitutional rights intended solely for human beings. “Corporate personhood is not an inconsequential legal technicality. The Supreme Court ruled that a corporation was a ‘legal person’ with 14th Amendment protections before they granted full personhood to African-Americans, immigrants, natives, or women”, states David Cobb, a spokesperson for Move to Amend and an attorney helping to lead the coalition.

“We are inspired by historic social movements that recognized the necessity of altering fundamental power relationships,” said Cobb. “America has progressed through ordinary people joining together—from the Revolutionaries to Abolitionists, Suffragists, Trade Unionists, and Civil Rights activists through to today. Move to Amend is a long-term effort to make the U.S. Constitution more democratic.”

The forum will focus on how Athens can join the national movement against Corporate Personhood. Cobb will provide information about the issue and facilitate a discussion about local action in Athens and in communities across the United States to win the amendment campaign through grassroots mobilization.

“We are a diverse coalition with deep roots in communities nationwide. We recognize that amending the Constitution to restore the power of the people over corporations will not be easy, but we know correcting the Supreme Court is imperative to the progress of our nation,” stated Cobb.

Over 221,000 people have signed an online petition supporting a constitutional amendment at www.MoveToAmend.org.

The local forum will take place on December 7th from 4:00-6:00 PM. For more information call (707) 269-0984 or visit www.MoveToAmend.org.