Occupy Wall Street protesters demonstrate outside US SC

WASHINGTON: Holding signs and shouting slogans, dozens of activists braved the chilly temperatures and gathered in front of the US Supreme Court on Friday (January 20) to protests against a 2- year decision called 'Citizens United.'That 2010 decision, Citizens United v Federal Elections Commission, allows corporations and private groups to spend huge amounts of money on political campaigns with few restrictions.The protest, dubbed 'Occupy the Courts,' was among hundreds occurring at federal courthouses in cities across the country, and included signing a petition to try and get the high court s decision overturned.In Washington, protesters chanted 'Rights are for people, not for corporations' and 'Which side are you on?' A handful of protesters were arrested.The nonprofit organization, Move to Amend organized 'Occupy the Courts' to launch its campaign to amend the U.S. Constitution, seeking to abolish corporate constitutional rights and establish that money is not speech.Move to Amend expected up to 25,000 people to rally across the United States, according to one of its spokesman.Occupy Wall Street began when protesters set up camp in New York s Zuccotti Park on Sept. 17, sparking demonstrations across the United States and elsewhere in the world and, in some cases, violent clashes with police.Protesters say they are upset that billions of dollars in bailouts given to banks during the recession allowed a return to huge profits while average Americans have had no relief from high unemployment and a struggling economy.They also believe the richest 1 percent of Americans do not pay their fair share of taxes.