Remove CenterPoint Energy and all other ALEC, AGA, and Chamber of Commerce members/financial supporters as lead sponsors of the Aquatennial Torchlight Parade. We pledge to protest the events and do no business with Aquatennial sponsors until this happens.

Bill Moyers provides extensive context on what ALEC is and its history in a 20-minute documentary: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0CaOhS7wJg">The United States States of ALEC</a>

Corporations to boycott:

* CenterPoint Energy

* Target

* Tunheim

* US Bank

* Lifetime Fitness

* Xcel Energy

* Star Tribune

* Canadian Pacific

* Salvation Army

* Mattress Firm

The pollution of fracking and natural gas, industrial prison complexes, voter suppression laws, and the blood of hate crimes do not represent "The best days of Summer". Privatized rivers and lakes of genetically modified fish, blood, chemicals, and gas do not celebrate clean Minnesota resources.

CenterPoint Energy through its membership in and contributions to ALEC, the AGA (American Gas Association), and the Chamber of Commerce turn these "best days" into another corrupt corporate political scheme that has no regard for the people or natural resources of Minnesota.

2013 update:

Please attend with this petition or signs and ask those attending to add their name. To add them, its as simple as entering the names into this Web form.

http://www.aquatennial.com/page/show/783206-events

"StartTribune Beach Bash" July 14 10am - 4pm, Sunday, Lake Calhoun

"CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade" July 17 8:30pm - 10:30pm, Wednesday along Hennepin Ave in Downtown (typically includes a race or some other event that starts around 6pm).

"Target Fireworks" July 20, 6pm - 10pm, Saturday

REFERENCES

Centerpoint & ALEC http://afscmemn.org/alec’s-corporate-connections

AGA & ALEC http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Gas_Association

Chamber of Commerce writing ALEC legislation contrary to private business wishes http://www.republicreport.org/2012/leaked-documents-show-how-corporations-have-veto-power-over-alec-bills-that-affect-our-lives-every-day/

Chamber of Commerce allowing foreign corporations to political attack ads: http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/the-chamber-and-foreign-contributions/

Chamber of Commerce is leading multinational political ad and lobbyist organizations: http://www.republicreport.org/2012/exclusive-chamber-funding-corporations/

Chamber of Commerce is a member, donor, and works with ALEC: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/22/1093721/-U-S-Chamber-of-Commerce-s-Institute-for-Legal-Reform-uses-ALEC-Model-Legislature-vice-versa?detail=hide & http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Chamber_of_Commerce#Ties_to_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council

Origins of the Aquatennial: http://www.minneapolisunions.org/mlr2007-6-21_ahern.php