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Website: <\/strong>www.RejectQuestion1.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The following events are listed in chronological order from most recent to oldest:<\/p>\n October 30, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNo\u201d Coalition Press Conference<\/p>\n Speakers:<\/p>\n Source: Ahlquist, Steve, Rhode Island Legislators speak out against Ballot Question 1<\/a>, Steve Ahlquist, Oct. 30, 2024.<\/p>\n September 20, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n For immediate release:<\/p>\n September 20, 2024<\/p>\n Contact: Brad Dufault \u2013 (401) 487-9116 \u2013 brad@checkmatecg.com<\/p>\n PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n RI Citizens for Responsible Government launches paid advertising campaign urging Rhode Island voters to reject Question 1<\/p>\n Ad campaign, videos highlight a Constitutional Convention\u2019s potential for big-money influence, threats to civil rights, and wasted taxpayer dollars<\/p>\n PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government, a diverse coalition of Rhode Island individuals and organizations opposing a Constitutional Convention, today launched a paid advertising campaign urging Rhode Island voters to reject Question 1 on the ballot in this November\u2019s general election. The ads released by the campaign highlight the threat that a Constitutional Convention will pose to civil rights, the potential for big-money special interests to influence elections and buy our Constitution, and wasted taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n \u201cThe release of these ads is the first phase of our paid advertising campaign to educate Rhode Island voters about the significant dangers of a Constitutional Convention,\u201d stated coalition Chair Vimala Phongsavanh, who is also Senior Director, External Affairs of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. \u201cOur REJECT Question 1 ad campaign will specifically highlight the threat a Constitutional Convention will pose to reproductive rights and family planning decisions, worker rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and minority rights. A Constitutional Convention will jeopardize our democratic process and can potentially sway outcomes away from the will of the people and towards narrow ideological agendas. Once Rhode Islanders understand that wealthy, out-of-state special interests will have no limits on what they can spend to influence our elections and effectively buy our Constitution, we believe they will overwhelmingly reject a Constitutional Convention, just as they did in 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n The ad buy consists of social media ads, as well as digital and video ads that will run across Rhode Island.<\/p>\n The Constitutional Convention question is posed to Rhode Island voters every ten years. Voters have rejected a Constitutional Convention the last three times it was on the ballot. The last time a Convention was approved and convened was 38 years ago in 1986.<\/p>\n The ads can be viewed here:<\/p>\n Video:<\/p>\n \u201cREJECT Question 1: Don\u2019t Let Wealthy Special Interests Buy Our Constitution\u201d<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JZlrDfwwqco<\/a> (81-second ad)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PaRWdxiCayI<\/a> (30-second ad)<\/p>\n August 24, 2024.<\/strong><\/p>\n Leading “no” coalition members submit comments to the Preparatory Commission opposed to calling a convention.<\/p>\n August 8, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n The “no” coalition came out in force at the August 8, 2024 public hearing of the Preparatory Commission, including coalition leaders from the AFL-CIO, NEA, and ACLU. Afterwards, the AFL-CIO tweeted<\/a> the Rhode Island Current story about the hearing.<\/p>\n For immediate release:<\/p>\n September 20, 2024<\/p>\n Contact: Brad Dufault \u2013 (401) 487-9116 \u2013 brad@checkmatecg.com<\/p>\n PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n RI Citizens for Responsible Government launches paid advertising campaign urging Rhode Island voters to reject Question 1<\/p>\n Ad campaign, videos highlight a Constitutional Convention\u2019s potential for big-money influence, threats to civil rights, and wasted taxpayer dollars<\/p>\n PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government, a diverse coalition of Rhode Island individuals and organizations opposing a Constitutional Convention, today launched a paid advertising campaign urging Rhode Island voters to reject Question 1 on the ballot in this November\u2019s general election. The ads released by the campaign highlight the threat that a Constitutional Convention will pose to civil rights, the potential for big-money special interests to influence elections and buy our Constitution, and wasted taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n \u201cThe release of these ads is the first phase of our paid advertising campaign to educate Rhode Island voters about the significant dangers of a Constitutional Convention,\u201d stated coalition Chair Vimala Phongsavanh, who is also Senior Director, External Affairs of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. \u201cOur REJECT Question 1 ad campaign will specifically highlight the threat a Constitutional Convention will pose to reproductive rights and family planning decisions, worker rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and minority rights. A Constitutional Convention will jeopardize our democratic process and can potentially sway outcomes away from the will of the people and towards narrow ideological agendas. Once Rhode Islanders understand that wealthy, out-of-state special interests will have no limits on what they can spend to influence our elections and effectively buy our Constitution, we believe they will overwhelmingly reject a Constitutional Convention, just as they did in 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n The ad buy consists of social media ads, as well as digital and video ads that will run across Rhode Island.<\/p>\n The Constitutional Convention question is posed to Rhode Island voters every ten years. Voters have rejected a Constitutional Convention the last three times it was on the ballot. The last time a Convention was approved and convened was 38 years ago in 1986.<\/p>\n The ads can be viewed here:<\/p>\n Video:<\/p>\n \u201cREJECT Question 1: Don\u2019t Let Wealthy Special Interests Buy Our Constitution\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n July 30, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n RI Citizens for Responsible Government launches campaign to defeat Constitutional Convention; urges voters to reject Question 1<\/a>, Progressive Charleston, July 30, 2024.<\/p>\n July 8, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n The three organizations leading the no coalition organizing drive in 2024 are the RI AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, and the RI ACLU. This core group, longtime coalition partners, is similar to 2014 except for the lead role of the AFL-CIO rather than the teachers union. But it should be noted that the no coalition is organizing relatively late. Expect dozens of organizations in the resulting coalition by early fall 2024. Copied below is an email sent to Rhode Island General Assembly members and other potential allies.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-07-08-Rhode-Island-Union-ACLU-PlannedParenthood-Letter-to-General-Assembly-Members.png” title_text=”2024-07-08–Rhode Island Union-ACLU-PlannedParenthood–Letter to General Assembly Members” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n July 15, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n The website for the no coalition, www.RejectQuestion1.com<\/a>, is launched. But the coalition won’t be publicly announced for another nine days.<\/a><\/p>\n July 24, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n RI Citizens for Responsible Government, Rhode Island’s no campaign regarding the convention referendum, was publicly announced the same day Rhode Island’s Preparatory Commission met for the first time.<\/p>\n The coalition members at launch are:<\/p>\n This no coalition is very similar to the previous no coalition in 2014.<\/p>\n The text part of the press release accompanying the launch is copied below:<\/p>\n Title:<\/strong> RI Citizens for Responsible Government launches campaign to defeat Constitutional Convention<\/p>\n Subtitle:<\/strong> \u201cA Constitutional Convention poses a direct threat to established civil rights, with the potential to introduce amendments that could undermine protections currently afforded under RI state law…”<\/p>\n Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government, a diverse and growing coalition of Rhode Island individuals and organizations, held a press conference today to launch its campaign to defeat a Constitutional Convention, which will be Question 1 on the ballot in this November\u2019s general election. The coalition cited several reasons why they are opposed to a Constitutional Convention.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the video. James Parisi, Field Representative and Lobbyist for the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, acted as emcee:<\/p>\nNo Coalition <\/strong>Events<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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