FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arcata, CA Passes Resolution
Against Corporate Personhood

ARCATA – On Wednesday, May 19, 2004, the northern California city of Arcata passed a resolution declaring Corporate Personhood illegitimate and undemocratic. The resolution calls for town hall meetings to develop legislation that would prohibit corporations from using Corporate Personhood to challenge Arcata laws that restrict corporations. Seventy-five Arcatans and supporting Humboldt County residents packed City Hall to influence the Council’s decision.

Dana Silvernale, of the local chapter of The Women’s League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) addressed the Council; “The salient issue at hand is the question of who shall govern this country, the people or the corporations. When Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton, was here last month, he emphasized the importance of building a grassroots movement to take back our democracy. He said the way to do this is to begin by organizing locally with our city and county governments. We are asking you to join us in this effort.”

“I would like to know how many of the people present support this resolution.” Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, director of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC) asked the audience. All but three raised their hands.

Corporate Personhood is the legal doctrine that grants Constitutional rights to corporations. Proponents of the Arcata resolution argue that Corporate Personhood was illegitimately granted by the Supreme Court in 1886, with no opportunity for public debate. Arcata’s resolution will take steps toward fostering that much needed democratic discussion.

Arcata has had success with town hall meetings in the past, using it to form the Committee on Democracy and Corporations (which brought the Corporate Personhood resolution to the City Council). Town hall meetings also informed the decision to pass an ordinance against the USA PATRIOT ACT.

“This resolution expresses our philosophical opposition to corporate personhood. Within the town hall meeting format, we will seek to build community consensus around specific measures we may take to guarantee our inalienable rights as individuals and our fair voice in the democratic process. We hope that our success in passing a resolution will encourage other communities to begin having discussions about how they can limit excesses in corporate power,” said Councilmember Dave Meserve.

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has a national campaign to encourage fifty cities to adopt resolutions against Corporate Personhood. Berkeley, CA will be considering passing a similar resolution in June, and Arcata’s action is pivotal in inspiring other communities. More about the campaign and WILPF can be obtained at www.wilpf.org

Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC) works at the local level to assert democratic authority over corporations.

To read the text of the Resolution click here.

For a Word document of the Press Release above and Resolution text, click here.