In demonstrations aimed at getting money out of politics, 85 people — many elderly — were arrested April 12 outside the Capitol, reports DCist.
The protests are part of a weeklong series of demonstrations that seek to “make history and save our democracy,” according to the Democracy Spring website, which castigates “billionaires and big money interests” and advocates campaign finance reform.
Following a 10-day walk from Philadelphia, a coalition of progressive groups has pledged to take part in demonstrations this entire week. [April 11], the first in the series of protests, more than 400 people were arrested and charged with "crowding, obstructing, or incommoding." Police had to bring in buses to process the arrests off-site.
The groups are demanding "immediate action" to end the influence of money in politics and "to ensure free and fair elections in which every American has an equal voice." To that end, they are pushing for five bills: the Government by the People Act, the Fair Elections Now Act, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015, the Voter Empowerment Act of 2015, and the Democracy for All Amendment.
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