You Can’t Marry a Corporation (Video)
That’s what a King County official said after confirming that a Seattle woman tried to marry a “corporate person” in a stunt held to challenge the Supreme Court’s 1886 decision recognizing corporations as people and its 2010 Citizens United ruling that opened the floodgates of political campaign spending.
Correction: An earlier version of this article described a marriage between a woman and a corporation. In legal terms, this was incorrect. Since there is a three day waiting period before a marriage license is valid in the state of Washington, no marriage took place under the law.***
That’s what a King County official said after confirming that a Seattle woman tried to marry a “corporate person” in a stunt held to challenge the Supreme Court’s 1886 decision recognizing corporations as people and its 2010 Citizens United ruling that opened the floodgates of political campaign spending.
The event is believed to be the first-ever attempt at a marriage between a woman and a corporation. Without any hint of the absurdity of the ceremony, the county spokesperson explained why the marriage was not allowed:
“… When either party to a marriage is incapable of consent then it’s void, no longer valid, or not valid period. So that’s the basis in which we went ahead and voided the application. We went ahead and did that ourselves within our office because by the time it would’ve gone to the state, they would’ve voided it anyways. So we just avoided that altogether and voided it here.”
See footage of the wedding party convincing the county clerk to go through with the process below.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
Your support matters…NPR KPLU:
The nuptial saga all started as a publicity stunt to draw attention to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recognition of corporations as people in the controversial Citizens United decision in 2010.
Angela Marie Vogel, a local activist with ties to #MicCheckWallSteet and a initiative campaign to nullify Citizens United’s effects in Seattle, used a figure from an art installation in a downtown Seattle park to marry “Corporate Person.”
Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.
Media
As super PACs continue to blast the airwaves with ads, the broadcast and tech lobbies reap the benefits of protecting the secrets of their shadowy benefactors.
Courts & Law
Reasonable minds can differ about the most regressive opinions of the Roberts Court. But here are the decisions that should make any court-watcher's list.
As cable networks fawn over Super PACs, it's worth remembering exactly where all that soft money actually goes.
From Democratic town meetings to the Trump camp's trash-talking T-shirts, a day in Iowa offers a look into our country's near future.
Ten years after the Citizens United ruling that changed America, the damage is broad and deep—but we can still fix it.
If the last three years have taught us anything, it's that the GOP will tolerate all manner of corruption so long as the cash is flowing.