Dear John,
It’s only been ONE MONTH since the insurrection, and AT&T, Cigna, Intel, and T-Mobile already resumed funding congressional insurrectionists.1 As much as it was crucial for companies to pause their political donations immediately after the insurrection, it is even more important that they make a long-term commitment. Funding white nationalist coups cannot become “business as usual” for corporate America.
CALL NOW!DEMAND AT&T, CIGNA, INTEL, & T-MOBILE STOP FUNDING INSURRECTIONISTS
The insurrection was not an isolated incident; it was an escalation of white nationalist violence against our communities that has been legitimized by the members of Congress who incited the insurrection.2 In the lead up to the insurrection, members of Congress, like Senator Cruz and Representative Hawley, encouraged their followers to intimidate and harass poll workers in places like Georgia, Detroit, and Philadelphia, places that were trying to ensure every Black vote was counted.3 These politicians tried everything in their power to get Black votes thrown out. Even after the insurrection, several members of Congress kept trying to undermine our democracy. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebart, for example, took the stage at Conservative Political Action Conference, pledged their loyalty to Trump, and made threats against other members of Congress.4 Corporations play a huge part in keeping violence-inciters in power, like insurrectionist Blaine Luetkemeyer, who gets more than 72% of his political contributions from corporations.5 Through their political giving, corporations empower candidates to spread misinformation and fuel white nationalist organizing. We must tell AT&T, CIGNA, INTEL, and T-MOBILE that we won’t allow them to fund white nationalism--not during an insurrection, not ever.
Money speaks. So we are demanding that companies AT&T, CIGNA, INTEL, and T-MOBILE permanently cut off funds to Congress members who incited the insurrection, and commit to creating a public, long-term political funding plan that excludes donations to congressional insurrectionists.
We are working hard to hold corporations accountable for their role in the insurrection. But that work is far from over. Corporations are no heroes. They have been funding Republican lawmakers who fueled disinformation by declaring the election results fraudulent, sowed the seeds of white nationalism, and encouraged baseless claims about the election. They have funded lawmakers who have refused to denounce white nationalism. And they’re continuing to bankroll these dangerous politicians: corporate America gave over $10 million to the members of Congress who incited the insurrection between 2014 and 2020.6 We must ensure that these corporations who take our money aren’t funding the destruction of our democracy.
CALL NOW!HOLD AT&T, CIGNA, INTEL, & T-MOBILE ACCOUNTABLE FOR FUNDING INSURRECTIONISTS
Until justice is real,
—Jade and the Color Of Change team
References:
- “These corporations broke their pledge to stop donating to Republican objectors,” Popular Information, March 22, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/298159?t=9&akid=49576%2E4731121%2ERGksHH
- “The Far Right Told Us What It Had Planned. We Didn’t Listen.” The New York Times, January 7, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/292187?t=11&akid=49576%2E4731121%2ERGksHH
- “Poll: Most GOP Voters Still Support Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz After Capitol Riots,” Forbes, January 22, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/298163?t=13&akid=49576%2E4731121%2ERGksHH
- “CPAC to put 2020 election claims center stage just weeks after Capitol attack,” ABC News, February 24, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/298155?t=15&akid=49576%2E4731121%2ERGksHH
- “Meet the Most Corporate PAC-Reliant Reps in Congress,” Sludge, January 16, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/298156?t=17&akid=49576%2E4731121%2ERGksHH
- “20 corporations, $16 million, and 138 Republicans trying to subvert democracy,” Popular Information, January 6, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/292185?t=19&akid=49576%2E4731121%2ERGksHH
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
