Jonathan Frieman is a political activist who lives in Marin County, California.
"Corporate personhood" case
Frieman received major international media attention in January, 2013, when he deliberately got a traffic citation for driving in the carpool lane with incorporation papers that Frieman stated qualified him to be in the lane during the restricted hours. He contested the citation. [1] [2] [3]
Frieman's defense states that the wording of the restrictive highway signage refers specifically to "persons"; therefore, case law is applicable, going back to U.S. legal decisions from the 19th century, including Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad and to the more widely known 2010 " corporate personhood" case titled Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. [4] Frieman contends that, if corporations are indeed "persons", then carrying corporate papers in his car allows him to drive in the carpool lane. [5] Stating: "Corporations are imaginary entities, and we've let them run wild," Frieman cites the California Vehicle Code, section 470, noting that under the wording of the freeway sign, his ticket for driving in the lane should be tossed out. Frieman's attorney Ford Greene observed: "When the corporate presence in our electoral process is financially dominant, by parity it appears appropriate to recognize such presence in an automobile. [6] As of January 2013, Frieman has lost the first round of the case in Marin court, but an appeal is planned. [7]
Local activism
Frieman's local activism has drawn the wrath of the local newspaper, the Marin Independent Journal, who in a 2012 editorial called him "disrespectful" for his act of political satire regarding a local politician. [8] The newspaper has also reported on Frieman's efforts against political campaigns, using independent expenditures, including the campaigns of Joe Nation, former Marin Supervisor Cynthia Murray, and Bob Marcucci. [9] Frieman has also written op-ed pieces for the Marin Independent Journal, including a 2009 critique of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters who had proposed campaign financing reform that Frieman stated had "big loopholes." [10]
Opposition to a Target store
A leader in an attempt to prevent a Target outlet from opening in San Rafael, Frieman helped lead the fight against city council approval as a spokesman for the group 'Keep It Local.' [11]
References
- ^ Slapper, Gary (2013-01-17). "Weird cases: my passenger is my business". The Times. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ Raftery, Isolde (January 5, 2013). "California man says he can drive in carpool lane with corporation papers". NBC News. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ Sankin, Aaron (January 7, 2013). "Jonathan Frieman, California Political Activist, Asks, 'If Corporations Are People, Can They Ride In The Carpool Lane?'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ Berton, Justin (2013-01-08). "Corporation not person in carpool lanes". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ "Jonathan Frieman joins Thom to talk corporate personhood". Thom Hartmann Program. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ Richman, Josh (2013-01-07). "Marin man uses corporate personhood to fight carpool lane ticket". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ "Proceedings | Highlights from the Law Blog". Wall Street Journal. 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2013-04-11.(subscription required)
- ^ "Editorial: Frieman's charade at Assembly forum was disrespectful". Marin Independent Journal. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ Johnson, Nels (2012-02-17). "Website trick targets Mazzoni". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 2013-04-11.[ permanent dead link]
- ^ Frieman, Jonathan (May 31, 2009). "Jonathan Frieman: The county's campaign reform measure has big loopholes". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 2013-04-11.[ permanent dead link]
- ^ Walsh, Jason (2011-04-21). "San Rafael Council to decide on Target tonight". Pacific Sun. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-04-11.