Over the past week, activists have demonstrated outside the U.S. Capitol, demanding that Congress get big money out of the political system. More than 1,000 demonstrators have been arrested during acts of civil disobedience. The protests began as about 100 people marched from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for Democracy Spring, the series of sit-ins that took place last week outside the Capitol. This past weekend was the second act of the demonstrations, Democracy Awakening, which featured several organizations coming together to highlight the myriad problems that big money poses for progressive policies. As public outrage at the specter of big money in the presidential elections reaches a boiling point, organizers see an opportunity. Activists argue that the broad-based coalition of more than 250 environmental, civil rights, labor, and good-government groups involved in the recent protests signals the potential for a sustained democracy-reform movement.

(Greenpeace)

(CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

(CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

(Greenpeace)

(Greenpeace)

(Democracy Awakening)

(Democracy Awakening)

(Tammi Fuller)

(Greenpeace)

(Tammi Fuller)

(Tammi Fuller)