FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JAN 21, 2016 CONTACT: Eric Schmeltzer, [email protected]

LOCK S-FOILS IN ATTACK POSITION! COALITION OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS JOINS US , IN FANDOM CAMPAIGN TO BLOW UP THE ‘ OF CITIZENS UNITED’

Long-term effort will use fandom and gamification to engage Star Wars fans in a real-world fight against the Empire of Big Money, modeled after past successful fandom efforts

CONCORD, NH – Along with dozens of national organizations, and an online effort estimated to reach close to 2 million people, today, the Star Wars fan effort to fight money in politics – the US Rebel Alliance – is announcing its mission to destroy Big Money’s “Death Star,” the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. That decision was handed down six years ago, today.

Joining the US Rebel Alliance’s campaign are: Common Cause, The Sierra Club, MoveOn.org, Greenpeace USA, People for the American Way, Pubic Citizen, Center for American Progress Action, Every Voice, the Courage Campaign, Democracy Matters, ReThink Media, Open Democracy, WOLFPAC, The Harry Potter Alliance, the Center for Bio Diversity, Harry and the Potters, 99 Rise, Friend of Trees, Free Speech for People.

The effort is also supported by Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben and Jerry’s and founder of StampStampede.org, anti-corruption author Zephyr Teachout, UpWorthy Editor-at-Large Adam Mordecai, Hunger Games actress Jacqueline Emerson, and documentary filmmaker Holly Mosher.

Today, the US Rebel Alliance is announcing a long-term, strategic effort, to end Citizens United, which it calls the “Death Star” of the “Empire of Big Money.” As part of that effort, the group is rolling out some initial organizing tactics, including:

1) An online Thunderclap. This organizing tactic has allowed supporters (both individuals and groups) to pre-schedule social media posts and memes, in support of the Rebel Alliance’s mission, and directing others to sign up at www.USRebelAlliance.org. The Thunderclap is expected to reach over 1.6 million people.

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2) A mission hotline. A fun blast from the past, a telephone hotline, 1-866-85-FORCE, has been set up, for supporters to call into, to receive their missions. This hotline, which will be updated regularly, allows supporters to receive missions from voice actors portraying Admiral Ackbar, C-3PO, , and more. Missions will range from easy, like getting a friend to sign up, to more difficult. Missions will be updated to help strategically advance the group’s long-term strategy to undo Citizens United, on the way to winning the war against Big Money’s Empire.

3) A meme generator. is strong with the Rebel Alliance’s supporters, and the group wants to empower them to use the Force. And so, the group has launched a Meme Generator, to allow all supporters to use their own creative drive to spread the word about the upcoming battle.

The US Rebel Alliance, which launched just last month, has already gained hundreds of thousands of views, and thousands of shares of video content and viral memes it has released. Over 1000 have already taken its “ Pledge,” to fight Big Money in Politics, which the group sees as a simple start to an epic campaign.

“We are now organizing the star systems to take the fight to the Empire of Big Money,” said Andrew Slack, founder of the US Rebel Alliance. “And we have our plan of attack. This will not be a quick, or easy, fight. But fandom has shown itself to be a wonderful reengagement tool, that allows people to bridge cultural and civic imagination, and, frankly, keeps them from quickly losing interest. This is an exciting time, and we are so pleased to be joined by some of the greatest groups and people in American political activism, to launch our mission, today.”

Slack previously cofounded the Harry Potter Alliance, a wildly successful fandom effort that organized Harry Potter fans around social justice and charitable causes. His efforts were chronicled in a Washington Post feature story, and in , Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Fast Company, Forbes, NPR, BBC, and and have been studied at the University of Southern California. Author J.K. Rowling, herself, became involved with the Harry Potter Alliance’s efforts, that Slack cofounded.

More quotes from organizations and individuals supporting the US Rebel Alliance, are below.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

The US Rebel Alliance (#RebelAlliance) is being spearheaded by Imagine Better, a new organization created by Andrew Slack, the cofounder of the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA). Over the past decade, the HPA has achieved major victories in the areas of fair trade, human trafficking, literacy, and equal rights. Imagine Better is also partnering with Civic Hall, a pioneer in the field of civic tech. Working together, Imagine Better is determined to harness the power of popular culture to influence social change. (MORE) STAR WARS / PAGE 3

FIND THE US REBEL ALLIANCE

WEBSITE: http://www.USRebelAlliance.org

TWITTER: http://www.Twitter.com/USRebelAlliance

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/USRebelAlliance/

TUMBLR: http://usrebelalliance.tumblr.com/

INSTAGRAM: @USRebelAlliance

QUOTES FROM SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS

"For two long years, New Hampshire Rebellion has been marching throughout NH to sound the alarm about big money corrupting and force the presidential candidates to support campaign finance reform. Now that the First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary is around the corner, we are excited to summon the Force and take the Rebellion beyond our borders by partnering with the US Rebel Alliance and Star Wars fans nationwide who believe in democracy for all." – Dan Weeks, Executive Director, Open Democracy

“Fragile and in need of citizen action, Democracy is. Rebel Alliance all voters should join,” - Miles Rapoport, Common Cause president, in his best Yoda voice.

"The same corporations polluting our air, water, and climate are polluting our democracy with enormous amounts of money. It's going to take everyone demanding real change to defeat the 'dark side.' Just like The Force connects all living things, our fight to protect our air, water, and climate is connected to the struggle against big polluter money in politics." - Courtney Hight, Sierra Club Democracy Program Director

“Greenpeace is thrilled to join the US Rebel Alliance, a powerful cultural force working to claim a new democracy that represents the people, not wealthy special interests. Citizens United unleashed a new era of attacks on the people’s right to a representative government, and it must be overturned. The one percent may have the money, but the people and the Force are with us.” -Molly Dorozenski, Greenpeace USA Democracy Team Leader

"There is growing energy--there is growing hope--that American citizens can work together and reverse course on big money flooding our elections and the corruption of Washington. The grassroots campaign I began in 2012, the StampStampede.org, has doubled in size with its mass visual demonstration every year since its trademark rubber-stamping of dollar bills came on the scene. And the larger movement includes millions of Americans who will take down the empire of big money with citizen activism--and we will win." -Ben Cohen, co founder of Ben & Jerry's and founder of StampStampede.org (MORE) STAR WARS / PAGE 4

"I am thrilled to be a part of this movement. Every generation has its fight, its epic battle against the forces of evil. For us, it is the corrupting influence of big money in our political system. I joined the Rebel Alliance because I want my democracy back." – Zephyr Teachout, Anti-Corruption Author

"Citizens United is like the Death Star of corruption destroying our democracy. It's time for we the people to form a rebel alliance to restore free and fair elections in America. Amend the Constitution we must - may the force be with us." – Ryan Clayton, Executive Director, WOLFPAC

“Six years after the Citizens United ruling, it has become abundantly clear our political system is broken. Anyone fighting for social and environmental justice is compelled to stand up in the coming election year to demand an end to the pay-to-play perversion of our lawmaking process by big money polluters like the oil and gas industry.” - Jamie Pang, endangered species campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity

“I’m excited to join the rebel alliance because taking back our democracy from the current oligarchy is the single most important thing we can do. Money in politics affects every issue we care about from the environment to civil rights, just follow the money.” Holly Mosher, producer “Pay 2 Play: Democracy’s High Stakes.”

"The Rebel Alliance is working to shine a light on how big money influences our political system. The work they're doing impacts so many different issues that we work on at the Harry Potter Alliance, and we're excited to support them in fighting for a better system." – Harry Potter Alliance