Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
What to expect when protesting
MarchOnHarrisburg talks to guests about fighting big money in politics
WEST CHESTER» Grassroots organizers from March On Harrisburg taught about 40 onlookers how to actively fight both big money in politics and gerrymandering, at the Unitarian Congregation, Friday night.
A mock protest and a typical meeting with a politician were reenacted as participants learned how to prepare for actions, and possibly arrested, during upcoming events May 13 through June 21, at the state capitol.
About 40 listeners peppered speakers with questions concerning the specifics of getting arrested during a political action.
The audience was told that non-violence can sometimes be creative and jumpstart social change in miraculous ways.
“We just restore democracy in places it has never been,” said speaker and Art Director for MarchOnHarrisburg Rachel Murphy. “We’re making progress but on both sides of the aisle we’ve got corruption.”
Rabbi Michael Pollack, executive director of MarchOnHarrisburg, explained that the training the audience was receiving was not complete, but would simply present what an action looks like.
The speakers and part of the audience, with coaching, mimicked a lobbying session that might occur at a legislator’s office.
The legislator talked over the constituent, dominated the con-
versation, interrupted often and was sexist.
Participants were told to be direct, ask the legislator to co-sign a bill and that the most successful meetings are the ones with honest politicians. The public and members of the group accurately reenacted a recent arrest.
The group met in a legislator’s office, were given three warnings, and then arrested and dragged away by capitol police. Harrisburg Police or state police are not typically involved.
When an action takes place at the capitol, demonstrators are then typically taken downstairs to the Capitol Police Station where they sit for an hour. Protesters then enter a bus and are transported to the Dauphin County holding station where they sit for an additional 30 minutes to three hours.
The audience listened intently as they were told that first time arrestees would then need to typically pay a fine of $50 to $150 and are charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, which will typically get “knocked down” to a summary offence.
Those taking medication were told to bring a pill bottle and let police know of their needs.
A prospective teacher asked if a record of the arrest would appear on a protester’s permanent record. She was told that it typically doesn’t and unless someone was interested in later joining the FBI they would have no problems.
Speaker and co-author of “Daring Democracy,” Adam Eichen, said that resistance on its own is bad.
“Resistance alone is never enough,” he said. “When you are against something and that something goes away, you stand for nothing.”
Eichen said there is too much money in politics, and that “everybody is really angry.
“Big money interests have a significantly bigger say then the rest of us,” he said. “Democracy is something that everybody can care about.
“There will always be big money in politics. It’s going to be a while but we’re in this for the long haul.”
Rabbi Michael Pollack, executive director of March On Harrisburg, said that Pennsylvania has been rated the 45th least democratic state, in part because of gerrymandering.
“Whoever controls the maps controls Congress,” he said.
Pollack talked about how Reading is “cracked open” into four pieces, with everybody who represents the city living “far outside” its borders.
“Instead of politicians drawing the maps, we the people need to draw the maps,” Pollack said.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently redrew the state’s congressional map after ruling the old map violated the state Constitution due to partisan gerrymandering.
Murphy referred to the Pennsylvania policy allowing legislators to accept gifts, including sports and concert tickets, a new roof or vacations, legalized bribery.
“We need common sense limitations on what legislators can accept,” she said. “It’s not one side or another, everybody is in on this corruption,” she said.