Rallies in both Port Townsend and Port Angeles this weekend commemorated the second anniversary of the Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The January 2010 ruling by a divided court found that the government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections.
The Saturday rally in Port Townsend drew about 110 people, while a march in Port Angeles on Friday drew eight people, with seven marching.
The Jefferson County MoveOn Council hosted the noon rally indoors at the Pope Marine Plaza.
“Citizens United — No Way!” focused on the impact of the court’s decision and featured a skit re-enacting the Supreme Court decision made two years ago.
Also available were information and petitions encouraging support of a proposed constitutional amendment nullifying the Citizens United decision.
Portraying members of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court were Leslie Schroeder as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, JoAnne Porter as Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Mike Regan as Justice Stephen Breyer, Eligious Wolodkewitsch as Justice John Paul Stevens, Doug Milholland as Chief Justice John Roberts, Aaron Von Awe as Justice Anthony Kennedy, Todd Wexman as Justice Samuel Alito and Gary Felder as Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Clarence Thomas was not represented.
The Occupy Port Angeles movement noted the anniversary with a march from Veterans Park on Lincoln Street to the Richard B. Anderson Federal Building on First Street to the Chase Bank branch on Front Street, returning to the park, said Anami Llami.
Llami, owner of The Caffeinated Clothier at 133 E. First St., said the Occupy Port Angeles group meets at the business at 7 p.m. each Sunday.
“We support the movement and provide space for no charge,” Llami said.
“Meetings are open to the public without having to buy anything,” she said.
Meetings have had up to 15 people.
“We’d like to inspire people to take action,” she said.
She felt that few showed up Friday because of poor weather.
“Our first march in the fall had over 200 people,” she said.
