The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) was designed to “help the poor and disenfranchised through education and employment.”  However, it has become notorious for alleged involvement in a far different set of activities:  “charges of voter registration fraud, embezzlement, tax arrears, corruption and, most recently, accusations of aiding and abetting illegal immigration, prostitution, tax evasion and child abuse.”

Investigations by conservative activists at ACORN locations around the country revealed systemic illegal behavior and moral depravity.  Videos showed ACORN employees explaining how to get tax breaks for housing underage prostitutes from El Salvador who were in the U.S. illegally.

These discoveries instantly became big news because of ACORN’s strong ties to President Barack Obama.  As reported by the Media Research Center, “Obama served as ACORN’s attorney and a top trainer at ACORN’s Chicago organizing conferences. In 1996, Obama filled out a questionnaire and put ACORN at the top of the list of his key supporters for his state Senate campaign.”  In 2008, the Obama campaign paid more than $800,000 to ACORN.

Now the federal government has begun to move to withdraw funding from the group:  “ACORN has been stripped of $1.6 million in federal funding and been dropped by the U.S. Census Bureau as a partner in conducting the nation’s headcount.”  Both houses of Congress quickly voted to defund ACORN, but this is only the beginning.  A single bill to remove funding has not yet passed both the House and the Senate, and the president has yet to sign any permanent funding withdrawal into law. 

But ACORN also receives significant funding from a number of large banks, many of whom received bailout money.  This means that even if the federal government defunds ACORN, tax dollars would still be funneled through these banks to an organization under numerous criminal investigations:

      1.      Bank of America:

a.       Gave ACORN $3.6 million from 2006-2008[i]

b.      Took $15 billion in TARP funds[i]

UPDATE: As of Monday, September 29, Bank of America pledged to "suspend current committments" to ACORN.

      2.      JP Morgan Chase:

a.       Gave ACORN $5 million since 1998 ($2.4 million in 2007)[i]

b.      Took $25 billion in TARP funds[i]

      3.      Citigroup:

a.       Gave ACORN $1.5 million in 2006[i]

b.      Took $25 billion[i]

      4.      Wachovia, which was bought out by Wells Fargo in 2008:

a.       Gave ACORN $5,000 since 2000[i]

b.      Wells Fargo took $25 billion in TARP funds[i]

      5.      US Bancorp:

a.       Gave ACORN $755,000  since 2002[i]

b.      Took $6.599 billion in TARP funds[i]

      6.      PNC:

a.       Gave ACORN $95,000 since 2002[i]

b.      Took $7.6 billion in TARP funds[i]

      7.      Provident Bank:

a.       Gave ACORN $5,000 since 2002[i]

b.      Took $151 million in TARP funds[i]

Select one or more banks to protest.  Contact bank’s president, director, or CEO and demand that they sign a pledge to stop any further contributions to ACORN (contact information is hyperlinked on each bank’s name).  A pledge template is available for download at the bottom of this page.

Organize a demonstration to demand this company stop funding a corrupt organization!  Visit any local branches in your area and stage a protest.  Submit photos and videos (ideally including the sign or building of the bank at which you protest) of your event to Campus Reform.  Local and even national media may cover your protest:  This will put pressure on these companies to change their donation habits.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

Click here to read the report of an ACORN protest from the University of Florida Florida Frontier group, and watch a video of their protest.

1. Collect the materials needed for the event.  Create signs and banners protesting ACORN and the bank’s history of funding the group.  Click here to learn more about making effective signs.  You will need poster board, markers, and materials for handouts or flyers to distribute to passersby.  Several sample flyers are available for download at the bottom of this page.  A megaphone could also be useful, but – as with all protesting – be careful of the bank’s private property rights.

2. Select a time and location for your demonstration.  Your choice of location will depend on which bank(s) has a branch near you.  Wherever you choose to hold your demonstration, make sure it is a highly visible location.  Be aware that if you protest on private property of the organization you choose, you will be legally subject to removal.  Protest on public sidewalks.

4. Get permission to hold your protest.  Depending where you hold your protest, you may need to apply for a permit, so investigate your local regulations. In general, a demonstration is permissible as long as it is on public property and does not block pedestrian, bike, or vehicle traffic.

5. Invite allied organizations.  Ask other conservative and libertarian organizations on campus or in the outside community to contribute to the purchase of supplies or join you in your protest.  This is a great way to strengthen cooperation between different groups and to increase attendance and volunteers in the form of members of the other groups.

6. Hold a planning meeting.  Before the rally, hold a planning meeting to make signs, create chants, design handouts, go over talking points, organize car pools, and prepare your publicity plans.  Click here for more detailed instructions on “How to Present a Public Program,” many of which will be helpful for this planning.

7. Advertise!  Success depends on how well you publicize your event, so you should advertise early and often.  This doesn’t necessarily mean paid advertising; “earned media” may work even better for you.  Click here to learn several important publicity measures to use before, during, and after the event.

8. Prepare for opposition. Keep a video camera available at all times, and record any aggression – both verbal and physical.  If some behaves belligerently, ask why he or she objects to your exercise of your right to free speech. For more information on how to deal with opposition, reference “Fight Back.”  NOTE:  As mentioned above, remain aware of your location and avoid violating the property rights of the bank(s) you protest.  Free speech rights apply to public land and the government, not private property.

9. Contact all group members to remind them about the protest.  This should be done the night before the event to ensure maximum attendance.

10. Demonstrate!  On the day of the protest you should show up early to scout out your location. Contact your car pool drivers and make sure everything is running on schedule.  When enough people arrive, stake out your location and begin your protest.  Make sure group members maintain their enthusiasm throughout the event.  Take plenty of pictures of your event (far more than you think are needed).  Submit those pictures and video footage to Campus Reform to increase the pressure put on these organizations to defund ACORN.

11. Ask for a pledge. Contact the presidents, directors, and CEOs of these banks (contact information is hyperlinked in the listing above) and ask them to sign a pledge (available for download below) to stop funding ACORN’s corruption and illegal activity.  You can also contact the head of the local branch of the bank where you protest.

12. Advertise! (again)  The fact that your event is over does not mean that your public relations work is done.  Earned media can be extremely useful to you.  Click here to learn several important follow-up publicity measures to do after the event is finished.