Civil Liberties

By Bruce Margolin

The Spirit of Occupy is all about civil liberties, it is the spirit that celebrates our most vital first amendment rights, to convene and redress our grievances with our government; it is a real life test to the health and well being of our of our most basic founding principles which are so vital to our democracy.

The spirit of Occupy also means taking part in the grand tradition of our great nation, to stand up when it is the right thing to do.

I have chosen to seek this congressional office at this late date in part because I have been inspired by the brave people, young and old, who have chosen to stand up for real change. They have put their freedom and safety on the line at campuses and city centers throughout the country and around the world. I hear them loud and clear, and I am here to stand with them, and for them in the quest for justice and opportunity.

Last fall my own daughter stood in protest at UC Berkeley, she stood near as fellow student protesters were beaten by police with batons. I could not be prouder of her, or the brave young student patriots who stood together that day. This is how we effect serious change in this great country. This is how women triumphed in their fight for the right to vote; it is how people of color and people from the LGBT community have fought for so many rights they were denied for too long, and the fight goes on. It is how we Americans put an end to the Vietnam War too, and it is working.

The message is simple, that severe economic inequality and the two tiered justice system, which makes such economic imbalance inevitable, is no longer acceptable.

With your help I can go to congress and bring the spirit of Occupy with me. I will fight vigilantly to keep the internet free. I will fight for our first amendment rights to free speech and a free press. I will fight to restore Glass-Stiegel, and restore rule of law to the financial industry. I will stand strong for woman's rights to reproductive freedom. I will stand up for workers rights. I will fight for healthcare and for freedom of medical alternatives. I will fight for full equal rights of all people, despite sexual orientation, gender, race, or religion.

Together we can do this. We are the 99%