MEDIA ADVISORY: Internet activists to park JUMBOTRON near Capitol Hill for “Hey Ron Wyden! Fast Track Film Fest”

PHOTO and MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Evan Greer, Fight for the Future
Email: press@fightforthefuture.org
Phone: 978-852-6457

MEDIA ADVISORY: Internet activists to park JUMBOTRON near Capitol Hill for “Hey Ron Wyden! Fast Track Film Fest”

Digital rights group Fight for the Future’s video of activists following Senator Ron Wyden around Oregon with a 30-foot blimp has received more than 160,000 views on Facebook. On Monday the group is planning a public screening in Washington, DC on a giant “video billboard” parked on 3rd St near the National Mall

WHAT: Internet activists will park a “Jumbotron” truck with a giant video screen near Capitol Hill on Monday, playing a series of videos focusing on Senator Ron Wyden’s role in supporting “Fast Track” legislation and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. A crowd will gather for a “Hey Ron Wyden! Film Fest” complete with free popcorn, banners, and signs.

WHEN: Monday, March 30th, 2015. 12:30pm – 1:30pm EST. The Jumbotron will remain parked in that location until 5:00pm EST.

WHERE: National Mall, 3rd Street between Independence and Constitution Aves, Washington, DC

WHO: The event is organized by Fight for the Future, a digital rights group best known for organizing massive online protests against SOPA, opposing mass surveillance, and supporting net neutrality.

MORE INFO: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/790873884337350/

BACKGROUND:

Senator Wyden has traditionally been a champion of Internet freedom issues, including net neutrality, but Internet advocates are deeply concerned about the Senator’s support for Fast Track / Trade Promotion Authority legislation that could push trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through Congress without meaningful debate or public input. The TPP contains extreme copyright provisions, pushed for by the same special interests that pushed resoundingly rejected SOPA legislation, that could lead to global Internet censorship, less privacy, and harsher penalties for whistleblowers.

Earlier this month, Fight for the Future followed Senator Wyden around his home state of Oregon with a 30-foot blimp reading: “Ron Wyden: It’s up to you! Don’t betray us. Save the Internet.” A video of the protest that the group posted has already received more than 160,000 views across Facebook and YouTube. The group has also run an online campaign resulting in more than 35,000 tweets at the Senator in recent weeks calling upon him to stick to his values of transparency and oppose Fast Track.

Fight for the Future previously worked with the domain hosting company Namecheap to park a similar JUMBOTRON truck across from the FCC as part of their campaign in support of net neutrality. Ironically, Senator Wyden sent the group a video to play on that billboard, as pictured in the photo linked here.

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